Population-based linkage of AIDS and cancer registries: importance of linkage algorithm.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluates linkage algorithms used in 1997 for Los Angeles County by the AIDS-Cancer Match Registry to estimate the risk of cancer among people with HIV/AIDS.


METHODS
In 2001, a linkage between the Los Angeles County cancer and AIDS registries using a five-pass algorithm was compared with the 1997 linkage results that used a two-pass algorithm.


RESULTS
The five-pass linkage detected all of the previously identified matches (6571) as well as another 431 (6.2%), which had been missed.


CONCLUSIONS
Record linkage methodologic decisions can markedly affect matching sensitivity and specificity. It is probable that the AIDS-Cancer Match Registry two-pass linkage has underestimated the risks of some cancers among people with AIDS.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. ddeapen@usc.edu
Dennis
D
Deapen
Myles
M
Cockburn
Rich
R
Pinder
Sharon
S
Lu
Amy Rock
AR
Wohl
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000465:Algorithms; D015897:Comorbidity; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology