TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of a medical records linkage system to enumerate a dynamic population over time
T2 - The rochester epidemiology project
AU - St. Sauver, Jennifer L.
AU - Grossardt, Brandon R.
AU - Yawn, Barbara P.
AU - Melton, L. Joseph
AU - Rocca, Walter A.
PY - 2011/5/1
Y1 - 2011/5/1
N2 - The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) is a unique research infrastructure in which the medical records of virtually all persons residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota, for over 40 years have been linked and archived. In the present article, the authors describe how the REP links medical records from multiple health care institutions to specific individuals and how residency is confirmed over time. Additionally, the authors provide evidence for the validity of the REP Census enumeration. Between 1966 and 2008, 1,145,856 medical records were linked to 486,564 individuals in the REP. The REP Census was found to be valid when compared with a list of residents obtained from random digit dialing, a list of residents of nursing homes and senior citizen complexes, a commercial list of residents, and a manual review of records. In addition, the REP Census counts were comparable to those of 4 decennial US censuses (e.g., it included 104.1% of 1970 and 102.7% of 2000 census counts). The duration for which each person was captured in the system varied greatly by age and calendar year; however, the duration was typically substantial. Comprehensive medical records linkage systems like the REP can be used to maintain a continuously updated census and to provide an optimal sampling framework for epidemiologic studies.
AB - The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) is a unique research infrastructure in which the medical records of virtually all persons residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota, for over 40 years have been linked and archived. In the present article, the authors describe how the REP links medical records from multiple health care institutions to specific individuals and how residency is confirmed over time. Additionally, the authors provide evidence for the validity of the REP Census enumeration. Between 1966 and 2008, 1,145,856 medical records were linked to 486,564 individuals in the REP. The REP Census was found to be valid when compared with a list of residents obtained from random digit dialing, a list of residents of nursing homes and senior citizen complexes, a commercial list of residents, and a manual review of records. In addition, the REP Census counts were comparable to those of 4 decennial US censuses (e.g., it included 104.1% of 1970 and 102.7% of 2000 census counts). The duration for which each person was captured in the system varied greatly by age and calendar year; however, the duration was typically substantial. Comprehensive medical records linkage systems like the REP can be used to maintain a continuously updated census and to provide an optimal sampling framework for epidemiologic studies.
KW - censuses
KW - cohort studies
KW - data collection
KW - epidemiologic research design
KW - information systems
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U2 - 10.1093/aje/kwq482
DO - 10.1093/aje/kwq482
M3 - Article
C2 - 21430193
AN - SCOPUS:79955633775
SN - 0002-9262
VL - 173
SP - 1059
EP - 1068
JO - American journal of epidemiology
JF - American journal of epidemiology
IS - 9
ER -