Summary
The National Death Index (NDI) is considered a gold standard for mortality data, but its utility in research is limited due to the time lag. A reliable alternative combines death information from oncology electronic health record (EHR), commercial, and US Social Security Death Index (SSDI), but requires access to EHR data.
In this study, researchers examined the reliability of a combined commercial mortality database, drawn from public obituary data (OD) and SSDI alone, as a viable option for research in which EHR data is unavailable for potential applications in non-oncology research. The research showed the combined commercial mortality database, when combined with any other dataset (e.g., medical claims, trials, etc.), could serve as a viable measure of mortality for pharmacoepidemiology real-world research.
Why this matters
This study holds significant implications for mortality research beyond oncology settings. By demonstrating the reliability of a combined approach, even without access to EHR data, the study offers a valuable alternative for mortality assessment in non-oncology research.