Grouping variables are a subset of Identifier and Grouping Qualifier variables used to group records in datasets by study, domain, across subjects, by subject, and for a subject. When used per this guidance, grouping variables and their values adhere to the following hierarchy:
The following are expectations for how values in these variables will group of records given their hierarchy.
The optional grouping identifier variable --GRPID may be used in all domains based on the general observation classes. --GRPID identifies relationships between records within a USUBJID within a single domain and has no inherent meaning across subjects or across domains. Relationships between observations are defined by assigning the same unique character value to the --GRPID variable for sets of related observations. The values used for --GRPID can be any values the applicant chooses; however, if the applicant uses values with some embedded meaning (rather than arbitrary numbers), those values will be consistent.
Using --GRPID in the general-observation class domains can reduce the number of records in the RELREC, SUPP--, and CO datasets, when those datasets represent relationships/associations for records or values to a "group" of general observation class records.
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