Key points
- The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) conducts surveys to collect health data from people across the United States.
- The Data Linkage Program links NCHS survey data to other sources of health-related data.
- Linking data provides a more comprehensive picture for researchers who want to answer complex health questions.
Sharing data helps answer questions
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) conducts surveys to collect data and develop accurate and timely health statistics. These data are used to guide policies and programs to improve and protect the well-being of the American people.
NCHS links health-related data from multiple sources so that scientists and policymakers can answer complex health questions. For example, NCHS-linked data resources have helped answer key health policy questions including—
- How effective are federal policies aimed at lowering lead exposure in children living in public housing?
- Does the mandatory folic acid fortification policy for grain products harm health?
- Do people with disabilities have adequate access to health insurance?
For 30 years, the Data Linkage Program has connected NCHS survey data to other sources of health related data, including—
- Death certificate information from the National Death Index
- Healthcare cost and use data from records
- Housing assistance data from the
Protecting privacy
Linking specific data requires combining highly sensitive personal identification data, such as names and dates of birth. For most linked data files, researchers must submit a proposal to access the information through a secure Research Data Center (RDC). RDCs help verify that data and privacy are protected and that the data are being used to advance public health.
Legislative directive for data sharing
The NCHS Data Linkage Program enables NCHS to respond to calls for open data and the use of federal data for evidence-based policy decisions.
The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 established the legislative direction for federal agencies to share information. The act also expanded data sharing to address the nation's emerging data-related needs.
NCHS continues to meet this challenge through its many data linkage activities. NCHS engages with the research and policymaking communities to increase awareness of these rich data resources.
Linked data from NCHS provides opportunities to understand the impact of many different factors related to an individual's health.
Looking ahead
NCHS continues to seek new opportunities to increase data linkages and to drive innovations in linked data accessibility. These efforts will provide a more complete picture of the population's health and health disparities
NCHS is working to develop the necessary linkages to understand the impact of public health emergencies better. This work helps NCHS more rapidly inform public health surveillance efforts during events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It also creates data resources that improve our understanding of the long-term impacts of such events.