A hybrid approach to record linkage using a combination of deterministic and probabilistic methodology. (12th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ong, Toan C; Duca, Lindsey M; Kahn, Michael G; Crume, Tessa L
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Volume 27:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 505
• Page End: 513
• Publication Date: 2020-02-12
• Subjects: record linkage -- data harmonization -- patient matching -- congenital heart disease -- hybrid; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; Information Services -- Periodicals; Medical Informatics -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Informatica; Geneeskunde; Informatique médicale; Computer network resources; Electronic journals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocz232
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1067-5027

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The disjointed healthcare system and the nonexistence of a universal patient identifier across systems necessitates accurate record linkage (RL). We aim to describe the implementation and evaluation of a hybrid record linkage method in a statewide surveillance system for congenital heart disease. Materials and Methods: Clear-text personally identifiable information on individuals in the Colorado Congenital Heart Disease surveillance system was obtained from 5 electronic health record and medical claims data sources. Two deterministic methods and 1 probabilistic RL method using first name, last name, social security number, date of birth, and house number were initially implemented independently and then sequentially in a hybrid approach to assess RL performance. Results: 16 480 nonunique individuals with congenital heart disease were ascertained. Deterministic linkage methods, when performed independently, yielded 4505 linked pairs (consisting of 2 records linked together within or across data sources). Probabilistic RL, using 3 initial characters of last name and gender for blocking, yielded 6294 linked pairs when executed independently. Using a hybrid linkage routine resulted in 6451 linkages and an additional 18%–24% correct linked pairs as compared to the independent methods. A hybrid linkage routine resulted in higher recall and F-measure scores compared to probabilistic and deterministic methods performed independently. Discussion: The hybrid approach resulted in increased linkage accuracy and identified pairs of linked record that would have otherwise been missed when using any independent linkage technique. Conclusion: When performing RL within and across disparate data sources, the hybrid RL routine outperformed independent deterministic and probabilistic methods.