What are subheadings in Embase?
Last updated on January 14, 2020
Subheadings are Emtree terms that are also used as concept qualifiers for drugs, diseases and devices to refine their meaning. Terms such as 'adverse drug reaction' and 'drug therapy', when indexed with a drug or device term, give a very precise idea of what an article covers. Eleven subheadings (7 for drugs, 2 for diseases and 2 for devices) are denoted key subheadings. These terms are bolded in the table below.
Subheadings in Embase may be linked with disease terms (disease subheadings), device terms (device subheadings) or drug terms (drug subheadings). Subheadings can also be searched alone, as free-floating or floating subheadings (i.e. not attached to a specific index term).
Note:There are 66 drug subheadings, including 47 routes of drug administration. For a further explanation of the route, please consult a medical dictionary.
Subject Area
The drug subheadings for pharmacovigilance are aligned with EMA and FDA definitions. The scope notes are listed below:
special situation | indexing instruction |
|---|---|
compassionate use | Use in the case of compassionate use of a drug or an expanded access program/trial for a drug. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
counterfeit drug | Use when the authors suspect or confirm a falsified drug. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
disease transmission via medicinal product | Use when the authors suspect or confirm the transmission of an infectious agent via a drug or a medicinal product. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
drug abuse | Use in the case of drug abuse. Drug abuse is the intentional excessive use of a drug accompanied by harmful physical or psychological effects. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
drug exposure during lactation | Use when a nursing infant is exposed to a drug through breast feeding. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
drug misuse | Use in the case of drug misuse. Drug misuse is the intentional and inappropriate use of a drug not in accordance with the authorized product information. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
drug overdose | Use in the case of a drug overdose. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
drug quality defect | Use when the authors suspect or confirm a quality defect of a drug. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
aged | Use when a drug is used for elderly patients (for humans age 65 years and over) |
kidney failure | Use when the drug is used by patients with kidney failure. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
liver failure | Use when the drug is used by patients with liver failure. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
medication error | Use in the case of a medication error, including medication errors through device malfunction. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
named patient program | Use in the case of drugs used in a named-patient program. Use when indicated as such by the authors |
occupational drug exposure | Use in the case of exposure to a drug as a result of one's occupation. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
off label drug use | Use in the case of off-label drug use. Off-label use is the intentional use of a drug for a medical purpose not in accordance with the authorized product information. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
pediatric patient | Use when a drug is used for pediatric patients (for humans less than 18 years of age) |
prenatal drug exposure | Use when the embryo or fetus is exposed to a drug through the parent. Use when indicated as such by the author. |
unexpected outcome of drug treatment | indexing instruction |
|---|---|
disease worsening with drug treatment | Use when the authors report disease worsening after drug therapy. The authors must make a connection between drug and the disease worsening. |
lack of drug effect | Use when the authors report a lack of therapeutic efficacy of the drug. |
partial drug response | Use when the authors report a partial response of the drug. |
unexpected therapeutic effect | Use when the authors report an unexpected therapeutic drug effect. |
Description | Code | Explanation | Subject area |
|---|---|---|---|
adverse device effect | dv_am | Used as a device subheading to identify a device that is used for diagnostic, therapeutic or procedural purposes in humans or animals, and for which an undesired effect is reported | Device subheading |
clinical trial | dv_ct | Used as a device subheading when the clinical trial of a device is reported | Device subheading |
device comparison | dv_dc | Used as a device subheading when two or more devices are compared within the same study | Device subheading |
device economics | dv_de | Used as a device subheading for the economic evaluation of a device, including cost analysis, treatment outcome and quality of life studies | Device subheading |
Description | Code | Explanation | Subject area |
|---|---|---|---|
complication | dm_co | Used as a disease subheading for a disorder or symptom that arises as a complication of a pre-existing disease or medical procedure other than drug treatment. | Disease subheading |
congenital disorder | dm_cn | Used as a disease subheading when attention is drawn to the congenital nature of a disease or malformation, including hereditary disorders present at birth. | Disease subheading |
diagnosis | dm_di | Used as a disease subheading when information is published on the diagnosis of disease or the application of diagnostic tests. | Disease subheading |
disease management | dm_dm | Used as a disease subheading to identify a disease for which information is published on the evaluation of health care, including cost aspects, treatment outcome or quality of life studies. | Disease subheading |
drug resistance | dm_dr | Used as a disease subheading to identify a disease for which resistance to drug treatment (other than drug tolerance) is a significant aspect. | Disease subheading |
drug therapy | dm_dt | Used as a disease subheading to identify a disease or condition treated with a drug. | Disease subheading |
epidemiology | dm_ep | Used as a disease subheading for the epidemiology of a disease, including its morbidity and mortality. | Disease subheading |
etiology | dm_et | Used as a disease subheading for both the etiology (causative factors) and pathogenesis (pathological mechanisms) of a disease. | Disease subheading |
prevention | dm_pc | Used as a disease subheading to identify a disease for which information is published on its prevention and control, including prophylactic treatment with drugs or vaccines. | Disease subheading |
radiotherapy | dm_rt | Used as a disease subheading for the treatment of a disease using radiotherapy. | Disease subheading |
rehabilitation | dm_rh | Used as a disease subheading when information is published on procedures to rehabilitate patients recovering from a disease. | Disease subheading |
side effect | dm_si | Used as a disease subheading for a condition which arises as an undesired effect of a drug used at therapeutic dose ranges in humans, including drug-induced disease. | Disease subheading |
surgery | dm_su | Used as a disease subheading when information is published on the application of surgical procedures or techniques to treat a disease. | Disease subheading |
therapy | dm_th | Used as a disease subheading when information is published on any treatment of a disease other than by drug therapy, radiotherapy or surgery. | Disease subheading |
Description | Code | Explanation | Subject area |
|---|---|---|---|
adverse drug reaction | dd_ae | Used as a drug subheading to identify a drug for which an undesired side effect is reported (when used at therapeutic dose ranges in humans). | Drug subheading |
clinical trial | dd_ct | Used as a drug subheading when the clinical trial of a drug is reported. | Drug subheading |
drug administration | dd_ad | Used as a drug subheading when the route of drug administration is emphasized. | Drug subheading |
drug analysis | dd_an | Used as a drug subheading for the identification, determination or structural analysis of a drug or potential drug. | Drug subheading |
drug combination | dd_cb | Used as a drug subheading for drugs given in combination or concomitantly. | Drug subheading |
drug comparison | dd_cm | Used as a drug subheading when two or more drugs are compared within the same study. | Drug subheading |
drug concentration | dd_cr | Used as a drug subheading when information is published on the concentration of a drug in body fluids or tissues. | Drug subheading |
drug development | dd_dv | Used as a drug subheading for the stages of drug development from screening, isolation and synthesis up to testing in animals, but excluding trials in humans. | Drug subheading |
drug dose | dd_do | Used as a drug subheading when drug dosage, including the relation between dosage and effects over time, is a significant factor. | Drug subheading |
drug interaction | dd_it | Used as a drug subheading for interactions between drugs, or between a drug and food, alcohol or other chemicals in humans or animals. | Drug subheading |
drug therapy | dd_dt | Used as a drug subheading to identify a drug used to treat disease (including curative, palliative, symptomatic or prophylactic treatment). | Drug subheading |
drug toxicity | dd_to | Used as a drug subheading to identify a drug or chemical that is toxic in animals (including LD50 tests), in animal or human cells and tissues, and in other toxicity studies. In humans, used to signal toxicity at non-therapeutic dose ranges, or when lasting damage is caused at therapeutic dose ranges. | Drug subheading |
endogenous compound | dd_ec | Used as a drug subheading for a substance that is endogenous to the organism, tissue, cells or body fluids being studied. | Drug subheading |
pharmaceutics | dd_pr | Used as a drug subheading for the formulation of a drug or drug mixture, including the physical and chemical properties of drugs relevant to drug pharmacy. | Drug subheading |
pharmacoeconomics | dd_pe | Used as a drug subheading for the economic evaluation of drug therapy, including cost analysis, treatment outcome and quality of life studies. | Drug subheading |
pharmacokinetics | dd_pk | Used as a drug subheading for the kinetics of absorption, distribution, biotransformation or elimination of a drug in humans and animals. | Drug subheading |
pharmacology | dd_pd | Used as a drug subheading for the mechanism of action of a drug, including drug binding to receptors and drug sensitivity/resistance studies (other than for microorganisms). | Drug subheading |
special situation for pharmacovigilance | dd_pv | Used as a drug subheading when a drug is used in the following situations, including: prenatal drug exposure, drug exposure during lactation, off label drug use, drug misuse, drug abuse, drug overdose, occupational drug exposure, medication error, liver failure, kidney failure, disease transmission, counterfeit drug, drug quality defect, compassionate use, named-patient program, elderly patient, and pediatric patient. See the details in the following table. | Drug subheading |
unexpected outcome of drug treatment | dd_tm | Used as a drug subheading when a drug is reported for lack of drug effect, partial drug response, unexpected therapeutic effect and disease worsening. See the details in the following table. | Drug subheading |
Administration route | Code | Example |
|---|---|---|
buccal drug administration | dd_bd | 'nicotine'/dd_bd |
epidural drug administration | dd_ei | 'nicotine'/dd_ei |
inhalational drug administration | dd_ih | 'decongestive agent'/dd_ih |
intraarterial drug administration | dd_ia | 'bleomycin'/dd_ia |
intraarticular drug administration | dd_ar | 'hyaluronic acid'/dd_ar |
intrabronchial drug administration | dd_br | 'fluticasone propionate'/dd_br |
intrabursal drug administration | dd_bu | 'betamethasone'/dd_bu |
intracameral drug administration | dd_cl | 'dexamethasone derivative'/dd_cl |
intracardiac drug administration | dd_ic | 'epinephrine'/dd_ic |
intracavernous drug administration | dd_ca | 'alprostadil alfadex'/dd_ca |
intracerebral drug administration | dd_ce | 'deferoxamine'/dd_ce |
intracerebroventricular drug administration | dd_cv | 'deferoxamine'/dd_cv |
intracisternal drug administration | dd_ci | 'clonidine'/dd_ci |
intradermal drug administration | dd_dl | 'insulin derivative'/dd_dl |
intraduodenal drug administration | dd_du | 'mucolytic agent'/dd_du |
intragastric drug administration | dd_ig | 'botulinum toxin a'/dd_ig |
intralesional drug administration | dd_il | 'triamcinolone acetonide'/dd_il |
intralymphatic drug administration | dd_ly | 'antibiotic agent'/dd_ly |
intramuscular drug administration | dd_im | 'haloperidol'/dd_im |
intranasal drug administration | dd_na | 'caffeine'/dd_na |
intraocular drug administration | dd_io | 'bevacizumab'/dd_io |
intraosseous drug administration | dd_os | 'antibiotic agent'/dd_os |
intraperitoneal drug administration | dd_ip | 'drug'/dd_ip |
intrapleural drug administration | dd_pl | 'drug'/dd_pl |
intraspinal drug administration | dd_sp | 'morphine'/dd_sp |
intrathecal drug administration | dd_tl | 'morphine'/dd_tl |
intratracheal drug administration | dd_tr | 'morphine'/dd_tr |
intratumoral drug administration | dd_tu | 'drug'/dd_tu |
intratympanic drug administration | dd_ty | 'gentamicin'/dd_ty |
intraurethral drug administration | dd_ur | 'alprostadil alfadex'/dd_ur |
intrauterine drug administration | dd_ut | 'levonorgestrel'/dd_ut |
intravaginal drug administration | dd_va | 'estrogen'/dd_va |
intravenous drug administration | dd_iv | 'vincristine'/dd_iv |
intravesical drug administration | dd_ve | 'mitomycin derivative'/dd_ve |
intravitreal drug administration | dd_vi | 'foscarnet'/dd_vi |
oral drug administration | dd_po | 'paracetamol'/dd_po |
oral drug administration | dd_po | 'paracetamol'/dd_po |
parenteral drug administration | dd_pa | 'morphine'/dd_pa |
periocular drug administration | dd_oc | 'dexamethasone'/dd_oc |
rectal drug administration | dd_rc | 'theophylline'/dd_rc |
regional perfusion | dd_rp | 'antibiotics'/dd_rp |
retrobulbar drug administration | dd_rb | 'mepivacaine'/dd_rb |
subconjunctival drug administration | dd_cj | 'mepivacaine'/dd_cj |
subcutaneous drug administration | dd_sc | 'insulin'/exp/dd_sc |
sublabial drug administration | dd_sb | 'glyceryl trinitrate'/dd_sb |
sublingual drug administration | dd_li | 'alprazolam'/exp/dd_li |
topical drug administration | dd_tp | 'fluocinonide'/exp/dd_tp |
transdermal drug administration | dd_td | 'buprenorphine'/exp/dd_td |
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