(P-440) The Use of Real-world Data in Research in the GCC Countries: A Descriptive Study

Background: Real-world data (RWD) may offer a reliable and efficient approach to guide clinical practice and regulatory decisions in healthcare including drugs and medical devices safety and effectiveness. Despite increasing interest in the use of RWD worldwide, little is known about the status of RWD use in research in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Objectives: To provide an overview of research using RWD and explore key contributors and collaborators and areas of research in the GCC countries.

Methods: We searched Web of Science Core, PubMed, and EMBASE to identify studies used RWD and published from 1966 – 2020. Studies were included if the data source was electronic health records (EHRs), medical charts, health insurance claims, or health registries from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or United Arab Emirates (UAE). Only studies focusing on therapeutic interventions including drugs and medical devices were included. Two independent reviewers applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria on identified studies. Data extraction was then conducted using a standardized form.

Results: 136 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A preliminary analysis of 40 studies showed that 50% of the studies were generated from Saudi Arabia. The majority of studies from UAE (8 out 9) were in collaboration with other GCC countries, while 50% of the studies that used RWD from Saudi Arabia were in collaboration with other GCC countries. Included studies mainly used registries (55%) followed by EHRs (42%), and the remainder studies used medical charts. The most common area of research was related to drug use (45%), including prescribing patterns, drug safety or effectiveness, and identifying risk factors. The study population of included studies were primarily patients with cardiovascular disorders (40%).

Conclusions: Most of the studies that used RWD were conducted in collaboration between GCC countries. Given the small population size of GCC countries, we recommend greater data integration and sharing to enable researchers in the region to conduct studies using RWD pertinent to the GCC countries health priorities. RWD research in the GCC countries has been highly focused on the cardiology area; thus, diversification is needed to explore other areas of healthcare.