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Table 4 Sensitivity Rates of Mortality Data by Selected Subgroups and Source for Veterans, 1999 – 2002

From: Accuracy and completeness of mortality data in the Department of Veterans Affairs

Subgroups

N (%)

Sensitivity (95% Confidence Interval)**

  

BIRLS-DF

SSA-DMF

Combined

VHA Healthcare Use*

    

   Inpatient Users

387 (12.9)

86.3 (76.2 – 93.2)

94.5 (86.6 – 98.5)

100.0 (95.1 – 100.0)

   Outpatient Users

2,101 (70.1)

80.2 (73.8 – 85.7)

93.0 (88.4 – 96.2)

100.0 (98.0 – 100.0)

   Non-Users

894 (29.8)

72.1 (62.5 – 80.5)

90.4 (83.0 – 95.3)

95.2 (89.1 – 98.4)

Age on Jan. 1, 1999

    

   < 65

1,762 (58.8)

67.6 (55.5 – 78.2)

91.5 (82.5 – 96.8)

95.8 (88.1 – 99.1)

   65 or older

1,236 (41.2)

80.5 (74.7 – 85.5)

92.3 (88.0 – 95.5)

99.1 (96.8 – 99.9)

  1. * Based on any health care use in the VHA in 1999 – 2002.
  2. ** BIRLS-DF indicates the Beneficiary Identification and Record Locator Subsystem Death File; SSA-DMF, the Social Security Administration Death Master File.