MySQL cleanup table from duplicated entries AND relink FK in depending table

Question

Here is my situation: I have 2 tables, patient and study.

Each table has its own PK using autoincrement.

In my case, the pat_id should

Answer 1

This is how I did.

I reused an unused field in patient table to mark non duplicated (N), 1st of duplicated (X), and other duplicated patients (Y). You could also add a column for this (and drop it after use).

Here are the steps I followed to cleanup my database:

/*1: List duplicated */
select pk,pat_id, t.`pat_id_issuer`, t.`pat_name`, t.pat_custom1
from patient t
where pat_id in (
select pat_id from (
select pat_id, count(*)
from patient 
group by 1
having count(*)>1
) xxx);    

/*2: Delete orphan patients */
delete from patient where pk not in (select patient_fk from study);

/*3: Reset flag for duplicated (or not) patients*/
update patient t set t.`pat_custom1`='N';

/*4: Mark all duplicated */
update patient t set t.`pat_custom1`='Y' 
where pat_id in (
select pat_id from (
select pat_id, count(*)
from patient 
group by 1
having count(*)>1
) xxx) ;

/*5: Unmark the 1st of the duplicated*/
update patient t 
join (select pk from (
select min(pk) as pk, pat_id from patient 
where  pat_custom1='Y'  
group by pat_id
) xxx ) x
on (x.pk=t.pk)
set t.`pat_custom1`='X' 
where  pat_custom1='Y'
  ;

/*6: Verify update is correct*/
select pk, pat_id,pat_custom1  
from `patient` 
where  pat_custom1!='N'
order by pat_id, pat_custom1;

/*7: Verify studies linked to duplicated patient */
select p.* from study s
join patient p on (p.pk=s.patient_fk)
where p.pat_custom1='Y';

/*8: Relink duplicated patients */
update study s
join patient p on (p.pk=s.patient_fk)
set patient_fk = (select pk from patient pp
where pp.pat_id=p.pat_id and pp.pat_custom1='X')
where p.pat_custom1='Y';

/*9: Delete newly orphan patients */
delete from patient where pk not in (select patient_fk from study);

/* 10: reset flag */
update patient t set t.`pat_custom1`=null;

/* 11: Commit changes */
commit;

There is certainly a shorter way, with a some smarter (complicated?) SQL, but I personally prefer the simple way. This also allows me to check each step is doing what I expect.