Linking cohort data with registry data is a powerful way to enrich research datasets. Amsterdam Cohort Hub (ACH) has developed essential tools to guide researchers through the process of linking cohort data with microdata of Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In addition, ACH collaborates with GECCO, a Dutch infrastructure of environmental exposure data, enabling the linkage of environmental data to cohort studies.

Statistics Netherlands (CBS)

Linking Cohort Data to CBS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) provides an extensive source of data on different topics. The so-called microdata from CBS are organized in different datasets, each of which contains information regarding various areas, such as social economic status, hospital data (e.g. diagnoses of hospital admission), medication data and cause of death. However, the technical and regulatory requirements of the linkage process can be daunting. To bridge this gap, the Amsterdam Cohort Hub (ACH) has developed two essential tools to guide researchers through the process:

  1. A comprehensive step-by-step manual: A deep dive into the legal, procedural, and technical requirements for secure linkage.
  2. An interactive infographic: A visual roadmap highlighting key milestones and decision points.

Both tools are now available to the research community at the Amsterdam Cohort Hub, Amsterdam UMC, and beyond.

Download step-by-step manual

Link to interactive infographic

Click image to navigate to interactive infographic
Click image to navigate to interactive infographic

Receiving cause-of-death data
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) provides linkable cause-of-death data that can be received and used outside the registry environment. 

The regulatory requirements of this process can be daunting. To bridge this gap, the Amsterdam Cohort Hub (ACH) has developed a guide to help researchers through this process: A comprehensive manual to receive cause-of-death data.

Geoscience and health cohort consortium (GECCO)

ACH collaborates with GECCO, a Dutch infrastructure to support researchers to study the relation between environmental characteristics and health. This data, ranging from weather and air pollution to socioeconomic and neighbourhood characteristics, can be linked to cohort data based on postal codes. This creates an additional layer of exposome data, enabling researchers to systematically incorporate environmental influences into cohort studies.

More information on GECCO can be found on the GECCO website.

Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR)

Linking Cohort Data to the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR): A Step-by-Step Guide

Linking cohort data with administrative registries is a powerful way to enrich research datasets. The NCR has been the national source of cancer data since 1989, providing comprehensive and reliable statistics on cancer in the Netherlands. However, the technical and regulatory requirements of the linkage process can be difficult. To bridge this gap, the Amsterdam Cohort Hub (ACH) has developed an essential tool to guide researchers through the process:  A comprehensive manual for setting up cohort linkage with the NCR.

ACH cohort support

Are you planning to link your data to Statistics Netherlands or another registry? 
Please feel free send an e-mail to: cohortsupport@amsterdamumc.nl.