TY - JOUR
T1 - Usefulness of linked data for infectious disease events
T2 - a systematic review
AU - Field, Emma
AU - Strathearn, Melanie
AU - Boyd-Skinner, Christopher
AU - Dyda, Amalie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2023/2/27
Y1 - 2023/2/27
N2 - Surveillance is a key public health function to enable early detection of infectious disease events and inform public health action. Data linkage may improve the depth of data for response to infectious disease events. This study aimed to describe the uses of linked data for infectious disease events. A systematic review was conducted using Pubmed, CINAHL and Web of Science. Studies were included if they used data linkage for an acute infectious disease event (e.g. outbreak of disease). We summarised the event, study aims and designs; data sets; linkage methods; outcomes reported; and benefits and limitations. Fifty-four studies were included. Uses of linkage for infectious disease events included assessment of severity of disease and risk factors; improved case finding and contact tracing; and vaccine uptake, safety and effectiveness. The ability to conduct larger scale population level studies was identified as a benefit, in particular for rarer exposures, risk factors or outcomes. Limitations included timeliness, data quality and inability to collect additional variables. This review demonstrated multiple uses of data linkage for infectious disease events. As infectious disease events occur without warning, there is a need to establish pre-approved protocols and the infrastructure for data-linkage to enhance information available during an event.
AB - Surveillance is a key public health function to enable early detection of infectious disease events and inform public health action. Data linkage may improve the depth of data for response to infectious disease events. This study aimed to describe the uses of linked data for infectious disease events. A systematic review was conducted using Pubmed, CINAHL and Web of Science. Studies were included if they used data linkage for an acute infectious disease event (e.g. outbreak of disease). We summarised the event, study aims and designs; data sets; linkage methods; outcomes reported; and benefits and limitations. Fifty-four studies were included. Uses of linkage for infectious disease events included assessment of severity of disease and risk factors; improved case finding and contact tracing; and vaccine uptake, safety and effectiveness. The ability to conduct larger scale population level studies was identified as a benefit, in particular for rarer exposures, risk factors or outcomes. Limitations included timeliness, data quality and inability to collect additional variables. This review demonstrated multiple uses of data linkage for infectious disease events. As infectious disease events occur without warning, there is a need to establish pre-approved protocols and the infrastructure for data-linkage to enhance information available during an event.
KW - Epidemiology
KW - infectious disease
KW - infectious disease epidemiology
KW - outbreaks
KW - surveillance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149923426&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0950268823000316
DO - 10.1017/S0950268823000316
M3 - Review article
SN - 0950-2688
VL - 151
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
JF - Epidemiology and Infection
M1 - e46
ER -