Evaluation of Cancer Cases Reported through Inter-Registry Data Exchange in New York State

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Inter-Registry Data Exchange (IRDE) is vital for central cancer registries, enabling cross-state data sharing to enhance reporting accuracy and completeness.
• The New York State Cancer Registry (NYSCR) utilizes IRDE to manage cancer case data across state lines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the volume and characteristics of data exchanged through IRDE at the NYSCR.
• To assess the impact of IRDE on cancer case reporting completeness within New York State.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study analyzed invasive cancer cases diagnosed between 2018-2022 and reported to NYSCR.
• Cases were categorized by patient residence (NY vs. non-NY) and reporting source (facility, IRDE only, or both).
• Demographic and clinical data were examined, and county-level IRDE reporting was assessed.

Main Results:

• NYSCR sent 83,438 records and received 16,964. Non-NY cases constituted 13.0% of reports, primarily from states with IRDE agreements.
• Only 0.8% of NY cases were reported exclusively via IRDE, with significant county-level variation (0.1–14.8%), especially in border counties.
• Non-NY cases reported to NYSCR had different demographic profiles (younger, non-Hispanic) compared to NY cases.

Conclusions:

• IRDE plays a significant role in NYSCR operations, contributing to comprehensive cancer data.
• Understanding IRDE's impact on case completeness can help prioritize registry efforts.
• Collaborative efforts through IRDE can benefit all registries, leading to more accurate national cancer reporting.