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. 2018 Jun;23(23):1700359.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.23.1700359.

Potential adjustment methodology for missing data and reporting delay in the HIV Surveillance System, European Union/European Economic Area, 2015

Magdalena Rosinska  1 , Nikos Pantazis  2 , Janusz Janiec  1 , Anastasia Pharris  3 , Andrew J Amato-Gauci  3 , Chantal Quinten  3 , Ecdc Hiv  1   2   3   4 ; AIDS Surveillance Network  4 ; Members of the ECDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance Network
Collaborators, Affiliations

Potential adjustment methodology for missing data and reporting delay in the HIV Surveillance System, European Union/European Economic Area, 2015

Magdalena Rosinska et al. Euro Surveill. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Accurate case-based surveillance data remain the key data source for estimating HIV burden and monitoring prevention efforts in Europe. We carried out a literature review and exploratory analysis of surveillance data regarding two crucial issues affecting European surveillance for HIV: missing data and reporting delay. Initial screening showed substantial variability of these data issues, both in time and across countries. In terms of missing data, the CD4+ cell count is the most problematic variable because of the high proportion of missing values. In 20 of 31 countries of the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA), CD4+ counts are systematically missing for all or some years. One of the key challenges related to reporting delays is that countries undertake specific one-off actions in effort to capture previously unreported cases, and that these cases are subsequently reported with excessive delays. Slightly different underlying assumptions and effectively different models may be required for individual countries to adjust for missing data and reporting delays. However, using a similar methodology is recommended to foster harmonisation and to improve the accuracy and usability of HIV surveillance data at national and EU/EEA levels.

Keywords: Europe; HIV infection; missing values; multiple imputations; reporting delay; surveillance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequency of missing data in key variables (A) and corresponding missing data patterns (B) in European HIV surveillance data, EU/EEA countries (n=31), 2000–2014a
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proportion of European HIV surveillance records with simultaneous and per variable availability of CD4+ counts, transmission category and migrant status by reporting country, EU/EEA countries, 2000–2014
Figure 3
Figure 3
Average delay between HIV diagnosis and notification by the quarter of notification and reporting country, eight EU countriesa, 2005–2014
Figure 4
Figure 4
Recommended treatment of missing data in EU/EEA HIV surveillance data
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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