Colorado Vital Statistics and Health Information Data Set
Individual-level vital records data from birth and death certificates in Colorado.
Births and deaths of all Colorado residents
Access
To request access to public CDPHE data, researchers must enter the Data Request System (DRS), follow the steps detailed in the Introduction for Data Requests guide, and submit a Data Inquiry Form. If researchers request access to health facility-specific information, CDPHE will send researchers a data request packet, which includes a Requestor Information Form; Data Request Form; Study Summary; Data Security, Use, and Confidentiality Agreement; and Requestor Supervisor Letter. Additionally, researchers must submit proof of IRB approval in the data request packet before CDPHE can release nonpublic data. Separate Data Security, Use, and Confidentiality Agreements (DUAs) must be submitted for each individual researcher who intends to work with the confidential data. For any assistance with the process contact [email protected].
Timeline for Access
Generally, CDPHE reviews data requests submitted through the DRS within a couple of days. Allowing time for researchers to complete the data request packet for nonpublic data sets, clarification of the request, and other negotiations as needed, CDPHE aims to approve applications within 1-2 weeks. From the date of approval, CDPHE typically completes the linking process and sends the matched data set to researchers within 2 weeks.
Records must be destroyed or returned to the RVSB upon completion of the work described in the initial data request packet unless the RVSB provides a specific date for destruction or return. Researchers must notify the RVSB in writing within 30 days of destroying or returning the data.
Lag Time
Records are updated annually. Final calendar year data are available for request approximately 6 months after the end of the calendar year of interest. For certain public health surveillance activities and for vital records linkages, researchers may request provisional, current-year data.
Cost
A fee may be imposed to account for programming and data preparation activities. Generally, CDPHE follows a $50 per hour fee structure for requests that are not covered under existing funding sources. Fees are for services provided and are not for access to specific records.
Linking
Records are updated annually. Final calendar year data are available for request approximately by May following the end of the calendar year of interest. For certain public health surveillance activities and for vital records linkages, researchers may request provisional, current-year data, though data is not considered “final” until the final closeout the following Spring.
Identifiers Available for Linking
- Date of birth
- First and last name
- Social Security number
- For linking purposes, CDPHE requires that data sets include name, date of birth, and Social Security number. If one field is missing, CDPHE can still conduct linkages, but it may add to the time required to complete the data linkage.
Linking to Outside Data Sources
CDPHE will link their data with administrative data, data collected by the researcher, and other data sets.
Data Contents
Partial List of Variables
For birth records: mother’s race/ethnicity, education, and age, gestational age at birth, month of entry into prenatal care, plurality of birth, birth weight, infant gender, county, and zip code.
For death records: race/ethnicity, gender, age, zip code, county, cause of death (ICD-10), underlying cause of death, and infant death.
J-PAL Randomized Evaluations Using this Data Set
Unknown.