Capture-recapture methods in epidemiology a comparison of list mismatch methods using a diabetes case study
by
John T. Huakau
University of Auckland
Coauthors: Alan J. Lee (University of Auckland), Jennifer K. Holden (University of Auckland), Robert Scragg (University of Auckland)

We apply capture-recapture methods to a large diabetes data set from Auckland, New Zealand to estimate the prevalence of diabetes. We use the list mismatch methods of Lee (2001) and Lee et al. (2001) to allow for matching errors when constructing the contingency table of capture histories. We apply standard capture-recapture methods to this contingency table and estimate the prevalence of diabetes in Auckland. As a check we match the data using the probabilistic matching program AutoMatch (Match Ware Technologies, Inc., 1996), apply standard capture-recapture methods and compare the prevalence estimates.

References

Lee A. J. (2001) Effects of list errors on the estimation of population size. To appear in Biometrics

Lee A. J., Seber G.A.F., Holden J.K., Huakau, J.T. (2001) Capture-recapture, epidemiology and list mismatches: Several lists. Biometrics 57 (3), 707-713

Match Ware Technologies Inc, (1996) AutoMatch: Generalized Record Linkage System. Burtonsville, Maryland.

Date received: August 26, 2001