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Abstract:
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The National Center for Health Statistics’ Data Linkage Program routinely produces analytic files for use in epidemiologic research by linking its population-based survey data to the National Death Index to ascertain mortality follow-up information, including vital status, cause of death and survival time. Understanding the similarities and differences in the estimates produced using the linked data and the experiences of the general U.S. population is important for researchers using these files. To assess the comparability of the linked data to the general U.S. population, the mortality experience of National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) participants will be compared with that of the general U.S. population, using information from annual U.S. life tables. Overall survival probabilities will be compared for adult NHIS participants who were eligible for linkage and the general U.S. population. Similar comparisons will be done by race/ethnicity and age group for males and females, separately. The results of this analysis can be used as a resource to support the robustness of empirical findings for epidemiologic studies using the NHIS linked mortality files.
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