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. 1998 Sep;88(9):1387–1389. doi: 10.2105/ajph.88.9.1387

Hyaline membrane disease is underreported in a linked birth-infant death certificate database.

A Hamvas 1, P Kwong 1, M DeBaun 1, W Schramm 1, F S Cole 1
PMCID: PMC1509088  PMID: 9736884

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the Missouri State Department of Health linked birth-infant death certificate database and medical records with respect to recording hyaline membrane disease in very low-birth-weight infants. METHODS: We reviewed the records for all 976 infants weighing 500 to 1500 g who were born to St. Louis, Mo, residents in 1989, 1991, and 1992. RESULTS: Eighteen percent of the birth certificates and 54% of the medical records documented hyaline membrane disease, resulting in 34% sensitivity and 99% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The Missouri State Department of Health birth-infant death certificate database underestimates the incidence of hyaline membrane disease, which suggest that national statistics for the disease are also underestimated.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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