NHANES (1999-2004) Linked Mortality Public-use Files

Data File Description

The NHANES (1999-2004) Linked Mortality Public-use Files provide mortality follow-up data from the date of NHANES survey participation (1999-2004) through December 31, 2006. The public-use versions of the NHANES Linked Mortality Files were subjected to data perturbation techniques to reduce the risk of respondent re-identification while increasing the accessibility of NCHS micro data files. Synthetic data were substituted for the actual date and underlying cause of death data for selected decedent records. Information regarding vital status was not perturbed. The restricted-use versions of the NHANES Linked Mortality Files are not subjected to data perturbation techniques. NCHS has conducted a comparative analysis [PDF - XX KB] of results obtained from the public-use and restricted-use NHANES Linked Mortality Files.

 

List of Variables at a Glance

• NHANES sequence number
• Eligibility status
• Final mortality status
• Mortality source
• 113 Underlying cause of death recode (ICD-10)
• Person months of follow-up from interview date
• Person months of follow-up from examination date
• Multiple cause of death flags

 

Data File Technical Characteristics

The NHANES Linked Mortality Public-use Files are available in ASCII file formats. The following list provides the number of file records per survey.

• NHANES 1999-2000 9,965
• NHANES 2001-2002 11,039
• NHANES 2003-2004 10,122

 

Data Files

• NHANES Linked Mortality Public-use Data files

 

Documentation Contents

• File layout and detailed notes for selected variables [PDF - 59 KB]
• Frequencies [PDF - 64 KB]

 

Sample Programs

• Readme File [TXT - 12 KB]
• Sample SAS input statements [SAS - 5 KB]
• Sample STATA program [DO - 5 KB]