IJPDS International Journal of Population Data Science IJPDS 2399-4908 Swansea University 10.23889/ijpds.v9i5.2745 9:5:256 Outcomes of the Health Data Research Network (HDRN) Canada and Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Partnership Hayes Anne 1 Hogeveen Sophie 2 Gatley Jodi 1 Costa Andrew 2 Griffith Lauren 2 Jones Aaron 2 Youssef Sarah 2 Raina Parminder 2 Gruneir Andrea 3 Whyte Carrie Anne 4 Hovey Carla Ethier Marie-Chantal 4 Curtis Maillet Donna 5 Azimaee Mahmoud 6 Youngson Erik 7 Choi Tim 8 Gilbert Lindsey 5 Nunes De Melo Magda 6 Stewart Lindsay 9 Lester Kendra 10 Frizzell Katelyn 9 Kydd Robyn 11 Standing Mary-Ann 11 Burchill Charles 12 Towns Dave 12 Cantin Jean-Francois 13 Health Data Research Network Canada Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging University of Alberta Canadian Institute for Health Information New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training ICES Alberta Health Services Population Data BC Health Data Nova Scotia NL Health Services Secure Island Data Repository Manitoba Centre for Health Policy Institut de la statistique du Québec 18 09 2024 2024 9 5 2745 This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This article is available from the IJPDS website at: https://ijpds.org/article/view/2745 Objective and Approach

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is the largest national longitudinal cohort study, following ~50,000 adults across 10 provinces for at least 20 years. Health Data Research Network (HDRN) Canada is a distributed pan-Canadian network including members in all 13 provinces and territories. In February 2021, the organizations partnered with the objective to provide researchers with efficient access to multi-regional CLSA data linked to other health/health-related data through HDRN Canada’s data centres. A Steering Committee was convened including representatives from all parties to oversee the process from data sharing agreements (DSAs), negotiating terms of access, through to data transfer and linkage.

 Results

In Spring 2024, linkage was complete at four data centres (Ontario, New Brunswick, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia), with a DSA also in place for Newfoundland and Labrador. DSAs are nearing approval at three others (Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec), and in progress in Alberta. Saskatchewan is working towards participation.

 Conclusions

The HDRN Canada-CLSA partnership is on the way to making linked provincial CLSA cohort data available in all participating jurisdictions, facilitated by streamlined agreements and processes.

 Implications

Collaborative efforts of organizations such as HDRN Canada and CLSA to foster data linkages and streamline data access at a multi-regional level offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the intersection between aging and health care utilization. Research enabled by this initiative will inform health care decision making and evidence-based policy development at multiple levels, from the individual to multiple levels of government.