The Danish Anaesthesia Database

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
• Health Informatics
• Clinical Quality Improvement

Background:

• The Danish Anaesthesia Database (DAD) was established in 2004 to centralize anesthesia data nationwide.
• It operates under the Danish Clinical Registries (RKKP) framework, aiming for comprehensive data collection.
• The database supports quality assurance, development, and research initiatives in anesthesiology.

Approach:

• DAD collects data from all public and private anesthesia providers across Denmark.
• It registers patients undergoing general, regional, or sedation anesthesia, retrieving data from various clinical settings.
• Data completeness is increasing, with approximately 70% national coverage recorded in 2014.

Key Points:

• The database aggregates records to monitor 13 quality indicators and 11 complications.
• Variables include patient demographics, lifestyle factors, comorbidity, and anesthesia-specific details (type, duration, safety).
• Data extraction facilitates departmental monitoring and benchmarking through annual DAD reports.

Conclusions:

• DAD successfully covers the majority of anesthesia patients in Denmark.
• The database is increasingly utilized for both clinical quality improvement and research purposes.
• It provides a robust platform for advancing anesthetic care through data-driven insights.