title: [Record linkage between hospital discharge data and death records in the Puglia Region in 2001-2006 (Italy)].
abstract: In order to correctly perform record linkage among databases and accurately determine outcome indicators using hospital discharge data and death records, the quality of data is fundamental. A deterministic record linkage method was use to link hospital discharge data with records from the Death Registry in the Puglia region (Italy) for the years 2001-2006. Thirty-five percent of hospital discharge records in which the recorded discharge modality was "death" were not in agreement with the corresponding death records. Furthermore, 40% of hospital discharge records where the date of death was the same as the date of discharge from hospital did not record "death" as the discharge modality.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche ed Oncologia Umana, Cattedra di Statistica Medica, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Bari. statmed@igiene.uniba.it
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bartolomeo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trerotoli
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D003644:Death Certificates; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult