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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Medical record linkage in health information systems by approximate string matching and clustering.

BACKGROUND: Multiplication of data sources within heterogeneous healthcare information systems always results in redundant information, split among multiple databases. Our objective is to detect exact and approximate duplicates within identity records, in order to attain a better quality of information and to permit cross-linkage among stand-alone and clustered databases. Furthermore, we need to assist human decision making, by computing a value reflecting identity proximity. METHODS: The proposed method is in three steps. The first step is to standardise and to index elementary identity fields, using blocking variables, in order to speed up information analysis. The second is to match similar pair records, relying on a global similarity value taken from the Porter-Jaro-Winkler algorithm. And the third is to create clusters of coherent related records, using graph drawing, agglomerative clustering methods and partitioning methods. RESULTS: The batch analysis of 300,000 "supposedly" distinct identities isolates 240,000 true unique records, 24,000 duplicates (clusters composed of 2 records) and 3,000 clusters whose size is greater than or equal to 3 records. CONCLUSION: Duplicate-free databases, used in conjunction with relevant indexes and similarity values, allow immediate (i.e. real-time) proximity detection when inserting a new identity.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Medical Record Linkage of Anonymous Registries without Validated Sample Linkage of the Dutch Perinatal Registries.

This paper describes the linkage of data from three Dutch Perinatal Registries: the Dutch National Midwife Registry, the Dutch National Obstetrics Registry and the Dutch National Pediatrics Registry, for the year of 2001. All these registries are anonymous and lack a common identifier. We used probabilistic and deterministic record linkage techniques to combine data from the mother, delivery and child involving to the same pregnancy. Records of singleton and twin pregnancies were linked separately. We have developed a probabilistic close method based on maximum likelihood methods to estimate the weights of individual linking variables and the threshold value for the overall weight. Probabilistic linkage identified 80% more links than a full deterministic linkage approach. External validation revealed an error rate of less than 1%. Our method is a flexible and powerful method to link anonymous registries in the absence of a gold standard.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Use of medical record linkage to study readmission rates.

Readmission rates after inpatient care were studied by using routinely collected data from the Oxford record linkage study for 1968-85. Discharges from hospital and subsequent admissions were identified for people who were both resident and treated in the area covered by the linkage study. Rates were calculated for readmissions within 28 days after discharge from the first, index event. Readmission rates for elective readmissions after elective index admissions rose from 3.5% in 1968 to 7.1% in 1985. Those for elective readmissions after immediate (emergency or accident) index admissions rose from 2.4% to 3.5% during the same period. Emergency readmissions after an immediate index admission rose from 4.0% to 7.0%, and emergency readmissions after an elective index admission rose from 1.3% to 2.5%. All these increases were significant. The rise in elective readmissions may in part reflect a trend towards planned discharge with the expectation of readmission. The rise in emergency readmissions, which has been fairly gradual over many years, may, in some cases, be due to pressure on resources and inappropriately short lengths of stay. Further evidence is required to confirm or refute this. Readmission rates are one of the few potential measures available from routine statistics for assessing outcome, but due consideration must be given to issues of method and interpretation.

Emergencies↗
PubMed1978

Follow-up of vasectomy using medical record linkage.

The authors report the findings from an on-going of 1764 vasectomized men followed up by means of the Scottish medical record linkage system for a total of 4500 man-years after operation. The authors view the results so far as reassuring regarding the safety of vasectomy, although the mean length of follow-up (2.6 years) is still short. The study will continue. Some features of this method of follow-up are described and discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of case ascertainment by medical record linkage and cohort follow-up to determine incidence rates for transient ischemic attacks and stroke.

During the period 1960-1972, the medical record linkage index method provided an estimated average annual age- and sex-adjusted rate for first transient ischemic attack (TIA) of 134 per 100,000 population for those age 50 years and older. The cohort method estimate was 237 per 100,000 population (95% confidence limits (CL), 165-310). The discrepancy was due to 18 cases of TIA noted at the time of patient visits in the cohort analysis that were not identified from the medical record analysis. The cohort analysis for all strokes at age 50 years and older was not significantly different from the medical record linkage analysis. Although the cohort follow-up method provided better case ascertainment in this study, current indexing procedures provide case ascertainment equal to that of the cohort method and at less cost. No trend was found to suggest that incidence rates for TIA were decreasing in the period 1955-1979, in contrast to stroke in Rochester, Minn.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

[Use of medical record linkage in epidemiologic studies].

The article presents two methods of records linkage, deterministic and probabilistic, applied in epidemiological studies and medical registers. Sources of selection bias linkage was considered. The modified deterministic linkage by random selection of one from non-unique records was elaborated. The quality of applied method of record linkage in survival analysis was empirically evaluated. Usefulness of record linkage in epidemiology was talked over.

Adolescent↗