[Clinical databases in social epidemiological research].

Danish researchers can link several databases on everything from medical records to socioeconomic data on jobs and salaries by use of an individual person id-number. This allows a number of clinical databases to be used in studies concerning the impact of social factors on healthcare-related outcomes. Such studies have shown social inequalities in the prognosis of colorectal cancer. Future studies will explore whether patients' social position influences the outcome of other cancer diseases and some commonly performed surgical procedures such as hysterectomy.