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Health registries record data about patients with a specific health problem. These data may include age, weight, blood pressure, health problems, medical test results, and treatments received. But data in some patient records may be missing. For example, some patients may not report their weight or all of their health problems.

Research studies can use data from health registries to learn how well treatments work. But missing data can lead to incorrect results. To address the problem, researchers often exclude patient records with missing data from their studies. But doing this can also lead to incorrect results. The fewer records that researchers use, the greater the chance for incorrect results.

Missing data also lead to another problem: it is harder for researchers to find patient traits that could affect diagnosis and treatment. For example, patients who are overweight may get heart disease. But if data are missing, it is hard for researchers to be sure that trait could affect diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

In this study, the research team developed new statistical methods to fill in missing data in large studies. The team also developed methods to use when data are missing to help find patient traits that could affect diagnosis and treatment.

To access the methods, software, and R package, please visit the Long Research Group website.