Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Medical Center Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center.
This study analyzed the accuracy of the National Death Index when personal identifiers were used that included or excluded Social Security number. Computerized records of the Department of Veterans Affairs were used for comparison. Different combinations of identifiers other than Social Security number correctly identified from 83 to 92 percent of dead and 92 to 99 percent of living persons. These results should prove useful in ascertaining the mortality status of patient populations without information on Social Security numbers.