Accurately estimating breast cancer survival in Spain: cross-matching local cancer registries with the National Death Index.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of using data from the National Death Index (NDI) of Spain to estimate breast cancer survival rates among residents of Girona and Zaragoza diagnosed in 1995-1999.


METHODS
This was an observational, longitudinal epidemiologic study, using two population-based cancer registries. Data collected were of female residents of Girona or Zaragoza who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995-1999. Observed and relative 5-year survival rates were estimated, first using the information available from the Girona and Zaragoza cancer registries, and then with the inclusion of NDI data. The 5-year relative survival rate and corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals were estimated using the Hakulinen method. The Kaplan-Maier method and Log Rank test were used to compare survival curves.


RESULTS
No statistically significant difference in survival curves was observed in Girona for the data obtained before and after cross-matching with the NDI. However, there was a significant difference in Zaragoza. A comparison of the relative survival rates of each of the two registries before NDI cross-matching showed differences of 3.9% (5-year) and 16.1% (10-year) between the two, whereas after the cross-match, the difference was only 0.5% (5-year) and 1.2% (10-year).


CONCLUSIONS
In Spain it is imperative that there be systematic use of NDI data to supplement cancer registries, so that comparisons of relative survival rates between registries can be improved.
Martos
M Carmen
MC
Departamento de Salud y Consumo, Gobierno de Aragón, Spain; Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain. cmartos@aragon.es
Saurina
Carme
C
Feja
Cristina
C
Saez
Marc
M
Burriel
M Carmen
MC
Barceló
Maria Antònia
MA
Gómez
Pilar
P
Renart
Gemma
G
Alcalá
Tomás
T
Marcos-Gragera
Rafael
R
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012042:Registries; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate