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Enhancing Human Biomonitoring Studies through Linkage to Administrative Registers–Status in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Helle Margrete Meltzer

    (Division of Climate and Environment, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway)

  • Tina Kold Jensen

    (Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark)

  • Ondřej Májek

    (Institute of Health and Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic, 12801 Prague, Czech Republic
    Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
    Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Hanns Moshammer

    (Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria
    Department of Hygiene, Medical University of Karakalpakstan, Nukus 230100, Uzbekistan)

  • Maria Wennberg

    (Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden)

  • Agneta Åkesson

    (Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Hanna Tolonen

    (Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 00300 Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract

Record linkage of human biomonitoring (HBM) survey data with administrative register data can be used to enhance available datasets and complement the possible shortcomings of both data sources. Through record linkage, valuable information on medical history (diagnosed diseases, medication use, etc.) and follow-up information on health and vital status for established cohorts can be obtained. In this study, we investigated the availability of health registers in different EU Member States and EEA countries and assessed whether they could be linked to HBM studies. We found that the availability of administrative health registers varied substantially between European countries as well as the availability of unique personal identifiers that would facilitate record linkage. General protocols for record linkage were similar in all countries with ethical and data protections approval, informed consent, approval by administrative register owner, and linkage conducted by the register owner. Record linkage enabled cross-sectional survey data to be used as cohort study data with available follow-up and health endpoints. This can be used for extensive exposure-health effect association analysis. Our study showed that this is possible for many, but not all European countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Helle Margrete Meltzer & Tina Kold Jensen & Ondřej Májek & Hanns Moshammer & Maria Wennberg & Agneta Åkesson & Hanna Tolonen, 2022. "Enhancing Human Biomonitoring Studies through Linkage to Administrative Registers–Status in Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5678-:d:810127
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lynn, Peter & Jäckle, Annette & Burton, Jonathan & Buck, Nick & Laurie, Heather, 2005. "A review of methodological research pertinent to longitudinal survey design and data collection," ISER Working Paper Series 2005-29, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    2. Al Baghal, Tarek & Knies, Gundi & Burton, Jonathan, 2014. "Linking administrative records to surveys: differences in the correlates to consent decisions," Understanding Society Working Paper Series 2014-09, Understanding Society at the Institute for Social and Economic Research.
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