Synergies between centralized and federated approaches to data quality: a report from the national COVID cohort collaborative
Authors: Pfaff Emily R , Girvin Andrew T , Gabriel Davera L , Kostka Kristin , Morris Michele , Palchuk Matvey B , Lehmann Harold P , Amor Benjamin , Bissell Mark , Bradwell Katie R , Gold Sigfried , Hong Stephanie S , Loomba Johanna , Manna Amin , McMurry Julie A , Niehaus Emily , Qureshi Nabeel , Walden Anita , Zhang Xiaohan Tanner , Zhu Richard L , Moffitt Richard A , Haendel Melissa A , Chute Christopher G ,   The N3C Consortium, Adams William G , Al-Shukri Shaymaa , Anzalone Alfred , Baghal Ahmad , Bennett Tellen D , Bernstam Elmer V , Bernstam Elmer V , Bissell Mark M , Bush Brian , Campion Thomas R , Castro Victor , Chang Jack , Chaudhari Deepa D , Chen Wenjin , Chu San , Cimino James J , Crandall Keith A , Crooks Mark , Davies Sara J Deakyne , DiPalazzo John , Dorr David , Eckrich Dan , Eltinge Sarah E , Fort Daniel G , Golovko George , Gupta Snehil , Haendel Melissa A , Hajagos Janos G , Hanauer David A , Harnett Brett M , Horswell Ronald , Huang Nancy , Johnson Steven G , Kahn Michael , Khanipov Kamil , Kieler Curtis , Luzuriaga Katherine Ruiz De , Maidlow Sarah , Martinez Ashley , Mathew Jomol , McClay James C , McMahan Gabriel , Melancon Brian , Meystre Stephane , Miele Lucio , Morizono Hiroki , Pablo Ray , Patel Lav , Phuong Jimmy , Popham Daniel J , Pulgarin Claudia , Santos Carlos , Sarkar Indra Neil , Sazo Nancy , Setoguchi Soko , Soby Selvin , Surampalli Sirisha , Suver Christine , Vangala Uma Maheswara Reddy , Visweswaran Shyam , Oehsen James von , Walters Kellie M , Wiley Laura , Williams David A , Zai Adrian 
Published: September 2021

Objective

In response to COVID-19, the informatics community united to aggregate as much clinical data as possible to characterize this new disease and reduce its impact through collaborative analytics. The National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) is now the largest publicly available HIPAA limited dataset in US history with over 6.4 million patients and is a testament to a partnership of over 100 organizations.

Materials and Methods

We developed a pipeline for ingesting, harmonizing, and centralizing data from 56 contributing data partners using 4 federated Common Data Models. N3C data quality (DQ) review involves both automated and manual procedures. In the process, several DQ heuristics were discovered in our centralized context, both within the pipeline and during downstream project-based analysis. Feedback to the sites led to many local and centralized DQ improvements.

Results

Beyond well-recognized DQ findings, we discovered 15 heuristics relating to source Common Data Model conformance, demographics, COVID tests, conditions, encounters, measurements, observations, coding completeness, and fitness for use. Of 56 sites, 37 sites (66%) demonstrated issues through these heuristics. These 37 sites demonstrated improvement after receiving feedback.

Discussion

We encountered site-to-site differences in DQ which would have been challenging to discover using federated checks alone. We have demonstrated that centralized DQ benchmarking reveals unique opportunities for DQ improvement that will support improved research analytics locally and in aggregate.

Conclusion

By combining rapid, continual assessment of DQ with a large volume of multisite data, it is possible to support more nuanced scientific questions with the scale and rigor that they require.