Improved quality of tuberculosis data using record linkage

The aim of this study was to improve data quality on tuberculosis (TB) after record linkage and outcome correction through probabilistic linkage between the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN) and the Mortality Information System (SIM). Record linkage was conducted between SINAN records for Brazil in 2008 and 2009 in order to exclude notifications not removed by routine SINAN procedures performed by States and Municipalities. The databases were constructed according to the case outcomes. Linkage between SINAN and SIM used the database resulting from record linkage and SIM data that mentioned TB as the underlying or associated cause from 2008 to 2010 in Brazil. Record linkage decreased the percentage of new cases closed with patient transfer as the outcome, ranging from 34.8% in 2008 to 35.5% in 2009. After linkage between SINAN and SIM, the percentage of TB deaths among new cases increased, varying around 15%. The results highlight the need for attention to data quality for TB treatment outcomes in SINAN.