The Urologic Diseases Epidemiology Program funds descriptive and analytic epidemiology, including development and analysis of surveillance databases, cross-sectional surveys, prospective observational studies, and case-control studies (for evaluating rare diseases).
Key areas of interest include preventing disease, developing early markers of injury, defining risk factors for morbidity and mortality, and increasing evaluation of urologic disease measurements and outcomes in ongoing observational studies.
The program is dedicated to increasing the availability of epidemiologic data through both development of new databases and full utilization of existing Federal, State, and private sources of data. The program is working with the National Center for Health Statistics to develop and analyze the urology component measured in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
NIDDK has established a national data system program, Urologic Diseases in America (UDA). UDA collects, analyzes, and distributes information about diseases of the bladder and other structures of the lower urinary tract. Data includes incidence, morbidity and mortality, outcomes, and economic health impact of these diseases as well as data on practice patterns in urology. The 2004 UDA Interim Compendium covers urinary stones, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and sexually transmitted diseases. Still to come are chapters on perinatal hydronephrosis; male reproductive disorders; diseases of the urethra; kidney, bladder, and testicular cancer; and the pelvic pain syndromes interstitial cystitis and prostatitis.
For further information, contact Dr. Paul Eggers, Urologic Diseases Epidemiology Program Director.
