Data sources for NCD indicators
Updated
Overview of data sources used in the compilation of indicators for non-communicable diseases (NCD).
Cause of Death Registry
The Cause of Death Registry contains data on underlying causes of death based on notices of death completed by doctors. The Cause of Death Registry contains medical information on a total of 98 per cent of deaths.
Norwegian Patient Registry
The Norwegian Patient Registry contains health data on patients who have received or are waiting for treatment via the specialist health service.
- Norwegian Patient Registry (in Norwegian)
Norway Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements (KUHR) Database
The settlement system for the Norway Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements (KUHR) Database has been established to manage financial arrangements for GPs and other health personnel performing services that are reimbursed under the National Insurance scheme. Diagnoses are given at the level of the individual for every patient encounter.
Norwegian Prescription Database
The Norwegian Prescription Database contains a comprehensive overview of all prescription-only medicines dispensed by pharmacies as of 2004. Data on drug use are found in the Norwegian Prescription Database.
Cancer Registry of Norway
The Cancer Registry of Norway has information on new cancer cases in the population based on the results of tissue sample analyses and information from doctors examining, treating and following up cancer patients. Every year, the Cancer Registry publishes the “Cancer in Norway” report containing incidence data on the different types of cancer. In addition, there is the database of cancer statistics for the Nordic countries, NORDCAN.
The Cancer Registry manages the national screening programme in which women between the ages of 25 and 69 receive letters reminding them to visit their GP for a cervical smear test every third year. Cervical cancer screening has been nationwide since 1995 and an annual report is published. In 2015, 68 per cent of women had taken a smear test every third year, and 83 per cent had taken at least one smear test in the last 10 years.
Norwegian Cardiovascular Disease Registry and CVDNOR
The Norwegian Cardiovascular Disease Registry contains data on hospital admittances and outpatient consultations with patients with cardiovascular diseases retrieved from the Norwegian Patient Registry, information on deaths from the Cause of Death Registry, and more detailed information about cases from the medical quality registries within cardiovascular disease, such as the Norwegian Stroke Registry and the Norwegian Heart Failure Registry.
CVDNOR (Cardiovascular Disease in Norway) is a collaborative project between the University of Bergen and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. This research project contains data from hospital stays in connection with cardiovascular disease and diabetes among patients with cardiovascular disease during the period 1994-2014, and is linked to other data sources.
Tromsø Study
The Tromsø Study started in 1974 and consists of repeated health checks on Tromsø municipality’s population. The last two studies are particularly relevant to the period WHO would like Member States to report on: 2010-2025. Tromsø 6 (2007-2008) included almost 13 000 adults between the ages of 30 and 87, and had an attendance rate of 63 per cent. Tromsø 7 (2015-2016) included more than 21 000 adults aged 40 and older, and had an attendance rate of 65 per cent.
The survey of adolescents in the Tromsø Study, Fit Futures 1 (2010-2011) included pupils (aged 16-17) in their first year of upper secondary school in the municipalities of Tromsø and Balsfjord, and had a 93 per cent attendance rate. The participants were invited to take part in a new survey when they were in their third year (aged 18-19) called Fit Futures 2 (2012-2013), which had a 77 per cent attendance rate.
Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT)
The Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT) began with HUNT1 in 1984-86 and consists of repeated health checks performed on the population of Nord Trøndelag County.
The last two studies are particularly relevant to the period WHO would like Member States to report on: 2010-2025. HUNT2 (1995-97) covered over 65 000 individuals aged 20 and older and had an attendance rate of 70 per cent. HUNT3 (2006-08) covered over 51 000 individuals aged 20 and older and had an attendance rate of 54 per cent. HUNT4 (2017-19) covered over 56 000 individuals aged 20 and older and had an attendance rate of 54 per cent.
The surveys of adolescents UngHUNT 1 (1995-1997) and its follow-ups in 2000-01, UngHUNT 3 (2006-2008) and UngHUNT 4 (2017-2019) included health surveys of adolescents aged 13-19 (lower and upper secondary school). Over 9 000 adolescents took part in UngHUNT 1 with a 90 per cent attendance rate, over 8 000 adolescents took part in UngHUNT3 with a 78 per cent attendance rate, and over 8000 adolescents took part in UngHUNT4.
Norwegian Survey of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
The Norwegian Survey of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs is a telephone-based nationwide survey of alcohol, tobacco and drug use among individuals aged 16-79, and undertaken by Statistics Norway on behalf of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The last survey had a response rate of around 60%. The survey contains questions on alcohol consumption (WHO’s AUDIT questions) and enables trends in alcohol use to be tracked back to 2012.
- Norwegian Survey of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs (in Norwegian)
- Web report: Alcohol in Norway (in Norwegian)
- Web report: Tobacco in Norway (in Norwegian)
Norwegian Survey of Smoking Habits
The Norwegian Survey of Smoking Habits is a telephone-based, nationwide survey of tobacco use (questions about smoking and snus) among individuals aged 16-79, and undertaken by Statistics Norway on behalf of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The survey has been conducted annually since 1973 and the response rate has been around 60 per cent in recent years, around 70 per cent in the 1990s and around 90 per cent in the 1970s. From and including 2008, questions about snus have also been asked.
- Norwegian survey of smoking habits (Travel survey)
- Norwegian Survey of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs (in Norwegian)
- Web report: Tobacco in Norway (in Norwegian)
Alcohol sales - Statistics from Statistics Norway
The statistics compiled by Statistics Norway are based on data from the Directorate of Customs and Excise, as well as recorded imports. The data include recorded sales of alcohol. Unrecorded consumption in the form of home-distilled alcohol, tourist imports, duty-free sales or smuggled goods is not included.
National Dietary Surveys (Norkost)
The National Dietary Surveys of adults provide data at the individual level regarding the intake of food and drink among a nationally representative sample of the population of Norway. National dietary surveys were conducted among adults in 1993, 1997 and 2010-11. Norkost 3 was conducted in 2010-11 among a nationally representative sample of adults aged 18-70 and with a 37 per cent participation rate (n=1787). The method used was a combination of repeated 24-hour dietary recall interviews and a food propensity questionnaire. The next Norkost study is being planned for around 2020.
Norwegian Food Supply Data
The annual report “Developments in the Norwegian Diet” issued by the Norwegian Directorate of Health is based on food supply statistics that provide data at the wholesale level in relation to net supply of foodstuffs in kilograms per capita per year. The data provide rough estimates and do not provide information on the proportions consumed by adults, children and domestic animals respectively, or on the proportion being thrown away. Data from Statistics Norway’s consumer surveys are also used.
National Mapping Study on Physical Activity: the KAN studies
The studies are conducted by the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences in collaboration with the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
Physical activity among six, nine and 15-year-olds in Norway (UngKan) was mapped from a nationally representative sample in 2005-2006 (89-74 per cent participation) and 2011 (55-73 per cent participation) and will be repeated in 2017-2018. Mapping comprises both responses to questionnaires and objective measurements of physical activity and physical condition.
Physical Activity among Adults and the Elderly in Norway (KAN) was mapped from a nationally representative sample in 2009-10 (32 per cent participation) and 2014-2015 (26 per cent participation). Mapping comprises both responses to questionnaires and objective measurements.
- Mapping of physical activity (in Norwegian)
Child Growth Study
The Child Growth Study took the height, weight and waist circumference measurements of a nationally representative sample of pupils in 3rd grade of primary school (8-year-olds). The study was conducted in 2008, 2010 and 2012 in collaboration with the School Health Service, under the direction of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Norwegian Immunisation Registry SYSVAK
The Norwegian Immunisation Registry SYSVAK maintains an overview of the vaccination status of the individual and vaccination coverage in Norway.
The Norwegian Childhood Immunisation Programme includes a range of different vaccines recommended by the health authorities for children and adolescents. Basic vaccination is mainly offered to infants and young children, with booster doses for some vaccines being offered to school-age children. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is responsible for procuring the vaccines for the Childhood Immunisation Programme and distributing them to the municipalities. Vaccination takes place at public health clinics and through the school health service and is free of charge. All administered vaccines are registered at individual level in SYSVAK. The Norwegian Childhood Immunisation Programme issues an annual report that includes coverage statistics, reported cases of diseases against which vaccination is provided and the type of vaccines used.