title: Linking databases on perinatal health: a review of the literature and current practices in Europe.
abstract: International comparisons of perinatal health indicators are complicated by the heterogeneity of data sources on pregnancy, maternal and neonatal outcomes. Record linkage can extend the range of data items available and thus can improve the validity and quality of routine data. We sought to assess the extent to which data are linked routinely for perinatal health research and reporting.
  
  
  
  We conducted a systematic review of the literature by searching PubMed for perinatal health studies from 2001 to 2011 based on linkage of routine data (data collected continuously at various time intervals). We also surveyed European health monitoring professionals about use of linkage for national perinatal health surveillance.
  
  
  
  516 studies fit our inclusion criteria. Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, the US and the UK contributed 76% of the publications; a further 29 countries contributed at least one publication. Most studies linked vital statistics, hospital records, medical birth registries and cohort data. Other sources were specific registers for: cancer (70), congenital anomalies (56), ART (19), census (19), health professionals (37), insurance (22) prescription (31), and level of education (18). Eighteen of 29 countries (62%) reported linking data for routine perinatal health monitoring.
  
  
  
  Research using linkage is concentrated in a few countries and is not widely practiced in Europe. Broader adoption of data linkage could yield substantial gains for perinatal health research and surveillance.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR 1153 Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France Marie.delnord@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delnord
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Research Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szamotulska
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, TNO Healthy Living, Department Child Health, Leiden, The Netherlands Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department Public Health, Paramaribo, Suriname.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hindori-Mohangoo
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR 1153 Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blondel
authors.affiliation: Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City University London, London, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.affiliation: Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City University London, London, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dattani
authors.affiliation: General Directorate of Public Health, Generalitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barona
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Section Health, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berrut
authors.affiliation: Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zile
authors.affiliation: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Estonian Institute for Population Studies, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sakkeus
authors.affiliation: Information Services Department, THL National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gissler
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR 1153 Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeitlin
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068104:Infant Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000068097:Maternal Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy