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Effects of record linkage errors on disease registration
1University of Ulm, Dept. of Epidemiology, Germany.
Methods of Information in Medicine
|April 29, 1998
Summary
Errors in record linkage can distort disease incidence monitoring. Homonym errors underestimate incidence, while synonym errors overestimate it, particularly impacting large disease registries with strict confidentiality rules.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Reliable record linkage is crucial for accurate population-based disease registration.
- Advancements in computing have improved record linkage efficiency and reliability.
- Confidentiality concerns increasingly impede effective record linkage in disease registries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the impact of record linkage errors on disease incidence monitoring.
- To analyze the effects of homonym and synonym errors on incidence estimates.
- To illustrate the combined effects of linkage errors with empirical data.
Main Methods:
- Development of basic algebraic models to describe linkage error effects.
- Analysis of factors influencing underestimation (homonym errors).
- Analysis of factors influencing overestimation (synonym errors).
Main Results:
- Homonym errors (linking distinct individuals) lead to underestimation of disease incidence.
- Synonym errors (failing to link same individual) lead to overestimation of disease incidence.
- The magnitude of errors depends on identifier quality, linkage procedures, and registry size.
Conclusions:
- Restrictive confidentiality rules can significantly impede record linkage.
- Large and informative disease registries are most vulnerable to linkage errors caused by confidentiality issues.
- Addressing linkage challenges is vital for maintaining the integrity of disease surveillance systems.