OBJECTIVE:
to describe the procedures employed in constructing a national Unified Health System (SUS) dialysis patients database.
METHODS:
deterministic and probabilistic linking of High Complexity Procedures Authorization (APAC) records 2000-2012 was performed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and the Fine-Grained Record Integration and Linkage Tool (FRIL).
RESULTS:
14,200 APAC files were linked. 38,038,040 records were identified. 17,534 (0,046%) were eliminated as they lacked the Social Security (CPF) or National Health Card (CNS) key variables. 100,432 (0.264%) referring to unrelated cataract operations were also eliminated. Over the period, 351,076 individuals began dialysis treatment on the SUS and 280,667 (79.9%) remained in treatment for >3 consecutive months.
CONCLUSIONS:
the methodology used enabled a SUS dialysis patient monitoring database to be built. It can also be applied for monitoring procedures for other pathologies reimbursed under the APAC data system.
Chronic Renal Insufficiency; Health Information Systems; Data Analysis, Epidemiological Surveillance
