Data standards in echocardiography: a Dutch experience

The current echocardiographic data sets from five of the eight Dutch University Hospitals have been analyzed and compared. The resulting data set formed the starting point for the determination of the minimal or basic core data set, consensus data set and maximal data set. These data sets include measurements, calculations, interpretations, descriptive terms, normal values for the result data and indications (referral reasons) for an echocardiographic study. The relationship between referral reasons, measurements and the resulting echocardiographic report was one of the main purposes of this study. The resulting data sets have been related to the proposed recommendations and guidelines of The American Society of Echocardiography and The German Cardiology Society.