Operationalisation of covariates from available data sources
| Covariates | Source and examples of definitions that may be operationalised. |
| Sociodemographics | PBS: age, sex, area of residence, beneficiary status (concessional, general and repatriation). |
| Prescription medicine use | PBS: history of other medicine use, specified by drug class, for example, benzodiazepines. |
| Extent of comorbidity | APC/APDC: application of the Charlson comorbidity index84; PBS: application of the RxRisk tool.85 86 |
| Mental health history | MH-AMB, MBS, PBS, EDDC and APC/APDC: treatment for mental disorders with medicines, mental healthcare plans, outpatient care or hospital admission. |
| History of suicidality | EDDC and APC/APDC: prior visit for attempted suicide. |
| History of substance use problems | PHDAS: opioid dependence treatment; MH-AMB: treatment where substance use problems flagged; EDDC/APC/APDC: prior alcohol or illicit drug-related admissions. |
APC, Australian Capital Territory Admitted Patient Care; APDC, New South Wales Admitted Patients Data Collection; EDDC, Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales Emergency Department Data Collections; MBS, Medicare Benefits Scheme; MH-AMB, Mental Health Ambulatory Collection; NDI, National Deaths Index; PBS, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; PHDAS, Pharmaceutical Drugs of Addiction System.