Perinatal mortality according to 2 information sources

To evaluate differences in the number of cases of perinatal mortality in Catalonia (Spain) recorded in 2 health information systems, as well as trends in this phenomenon. Data were obtained from the mortality statistics (Health Department and the Catalan Institute of Statistics) and the minimum data set (MDS) for hospital discharges of the Catalan Health Service from 2000-2003. The frequencies are given for the cases reported and for cases following the legal criteria for reporting. The mortality statistics registered 27.2% fewer perinatal deaths, 44.77% fewer fetal deaths and 13.5% more early neonatal deaths than the MDS. These percentages were lower when only the cases following the legal criteria for reporting were considered. The differences between the two sources were related to low birth weight, prematurity, and the place of occurrence. Use of hospital data might improve the quality of perinatal mortality statistics.