Database research in urology

Clinical researchers have often leveraged existing databases to perform high-impact research. In this chapter, we examine database research in urology—as its influence has grown in clinical research. In particular, we will focus on large, retrospectively maintained registries, such as the National Cancer Database and the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Registry—often referred to as administrative databases. Large sample sizes found in these databases allow us to answer specific questions and generate hypotheses for future studies. Furthermore, their statistical power allows for the examination of rarer clinical phenomena, long-term survival analysis, and treatment trends over time. Several databases are easily accessible, making them convenient tools for many researchers, without the barriers of establishing institutional registries. However, despite their versatility, these databases have many weaknesses, including poor data granularity, which may curb their clinical application to specific questions. Consequently, publications employing these large databases require careful interpretation and a thorough understanding of their limitations.