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Data Extraction and Ad Hoc Query of an Entity— Attribute— Value Database

Affiliation of the authors: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Correspondence and reprints: Prakash M. Nadkarni, MD, Center for Medical Informatics, Yale University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208009, New Haven, CT 06520-8009; e-mail: <prakash.nadkarni{at}yale.edu>

Abstract Entity—attribute—value (EAV) tables form the major component of several mainstream electronic patient record systems (EPRSs). Such systems have been optimized for real-time retrieval of individual patient data. Data warehousing, on the other hand, involves cross-patient data retrieval based on values of patient attributes, with a focus on ad hoc query. Attribute-centric query is inherently more difficult when data are stored in EAV form than when they are stored conventionally. The authors illustrate their approach to the attribute-centric query problem with ACT/DB, a database for managing clinical trials data. This approach is based on metadata supporting a query front end that essentially hides the EAV/non-EAV nature of individual attributes from the user. The authors' work does not close the query problem, and they identify several complex subproblems that are still to be solved.

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