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Article History

Received: 1 December 2025

Accepted: 15 May 2026

First Online: 2 June 2026

Declarations

:

: This study was carried out through an individual linkage between IQED, IQECAD, Intego and IMA data. The IQED (local reference: Deliberation No 13/092 of 22 October 2013, last modified on 6 February 2024), Intego (local reference: deliberation No 13/026 of 19 March 2013, last modified on 5 December 2023) and IQECAD (local reference: Deliberation No 13/093 of 22 October 2013, last modified on 5 December 2023) data collections were carried out in line with the Belgian privacy legislation. IQED and Intego were waived the need for individual informed consent, but operates under an opt-out procedure for patients who do not wish their data to be included. IQECAD has been approved by the ethics committee of the University hospital of Ghent (advice EC UZG 2008/710), and participation requires individual informed consent. IMA collects and analyses health insurance data under its statutory mandate (Programme Act of 24 December 2002, Arts. 278–281).In addition, for the data linkage, an authorization was obtained from the Information Security Committee (local reference: Deliberation No 24/062 of May 17, 2024). All research involving human participants has been performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.