Table 1

Description of linked data sets

Data setDescriptionDates available for current data holdings
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) data collections
 Client fileDemographics and level of benefits for all DVA clients2004–2012
 Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits SchemePharmaceutical items paid for by the DVA dispensed anywhere in Australia2004–2012
 DVA health servicesAll medical and allied health services in the Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule and extra items paid for by the DVA2004–2012
 Hospital episodesAll hospital episodes in public and private hospitals in Australia2005–2012
New South Wales (NSW) data collections
 Central Cancer RegistryAll notifications of cancers diagnosed in NSW1994–2009
 Register of Births, Deaths and MarriagesAll deaths that occurred in NSW1994–2012
 Admitted Patients Data CollectionAll inpatient separations from public and private hospitals in NSW2000–2012
 Emergency Department Data CollectionAll emergency department visits to a subset of public hospitals in NSW2005–2012