Do postal health surveys capture morbidity and mortality in respondents aged 65 years and older? A register-based validation study

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
Susanne KelfveKarin Modig

Abstract

Non-response to population surveys is a common problem in epidemiological and public health research. Systematic non-response threatens the validity of results. Researchers rarely evaluate the magnitude of systematic non-response because of limited access to population data. This study explores how well morbidity and mortality in postal survey respondents aged 65 years and older represented that of the target population. The 2010 Stockholm Public Health Survey and the Swedish Population Register were linked to the Cause of Death Register and the National Patient Register in Sweden. Differences were analysed between the response group and the corresponding population in mortality, hospital admission, days spent in hospital and number of diagnoses. Finally, data were weighted for non-response to see if this improved generalizability. Non-response increased with age, and this increase was more pronounced among women than men. Respondents were marginally less often admitted to hospital, hospitalized fewer days and had slightly fewer diagnoses than the population, in particular after age 80. Significantly fewer women died in the response group than in the population as a whole. In terms of mortality among men and in terms of hospita...Continue Reading

References

Aug 16, 2001·Journal of Aging and Health·H NyboK Christensen
Oct 17, 2002·European Journal of Epidemiology·K KorkeilaM Koskenvuo
Jul 30, 2005·European Journal of Public Health·Mette Kjøller, Henrik Thoning
Sep 24, 2005·Health Services Research·A Lynn SnowJay Magaziner
Mar 21, 2006·European Journal of Epidemiology·René FejerPoul Flemming Høilund-Carlsen
Jun 8, 2007·Annals of Epidemiology·Sandro Galea, Melissa Tracy
Nov 7, 2007·European Journal of Public Health·Jens GundgaardNiels Kr Rasmussen
Sep 15, 2009·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·Laura E MiddletonKenneth Rockwood
Sep 21, 2010·Scandinavian Journal of Public Health·Ola EkholmEbba Holme Hansen
Jun 28, 2011·The Gerontologist·David J KleinAlan M Zaslavsky
Oct 9, 2012·International Journal of Epidemiology·Anna C SvenssonCecilia Magnusson
Mar 26, 2013·European Journal of Ageing·Susanne KelfveCarin Lennartsson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Ali AhmedWilbert S Aronow
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Phil EdwardsRachel Cooper
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Philip James EdwardsSarah Pratap
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved