National Longitudinal Mortality Study (NLMS) and Linked SEER-NLMS Databases

The NCI encourages interested investigators to utilize the NLMS and SEER-NLMS databases for cancer-related research projects. Investigators may develop and lead all phases of their analysis and receive statistical tabulations of study results for their project, but the data will reside at the Census Bureau and, due to data confidentiality requirements, the analyses must be conducted by Census Bureau statisticians. For information on accessing this database see the "Applying to Analyze the NLMS or Linked SEER-NLMS Databases" section below.

About NLMS

The NLMS combines sociodemographic data, collected by the U.S. Census Bureau via in-person and telephone interviews as a part of the Current Population Surveys (CPS), with cause of death information from official state records. The NLMS database includes approximately 3.0 million persons, and cause of death information on over 250,000. A full listing of the NLMS variables may be found at http://www.census.gov/nlms/reference.html.

• Variables in the NLMS database include: race/ethnicity, marital status, education, income, employment status, occupation, industry, veteran status, household size, nativity/immigrant status, smoking (for certain cohorts), health status, and health insurance status
• NLMS Cohorts: 1979-2002
• Linked to Medicare claims data for the period 1991-2001
  (For more information on Medicare claims data, visit http://healthservices.cancer.gov/seermedicare/considerations/)
• Linked to the tobacco use supplements for years 1985, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, and 2001
  (For more information on the tobacco use supplement data, visit http://riskfactor.cancer.gov/studies/tus-cps/)

About Linked SEER-NLMS

The linked SEER-NLMS database is designed to expand opportunities for analyzing socioeconomic differentials in cancer incidence, survival, and tumor characteristics based on self-reported demographic and socioeconomic factors. A list of variables available in the SEER database may be found at http://seer.cancer.gov/data/documentation.html.

• SEER registry cancer patient records: 1973-2003
• NLMS cohorts : 1979-2002

Potential Uses of NLMS and Linked SEER-NLMS Data

• Socioeconomic determinants of mortality or incidence of major cancers
• Self-reported race and ethnic associations with mortality or incidence of major cancers
• Cancer mortality or incidence by employment status
• Educational or income disparities in cancer mortality, incidence, survival, stage, tumor characteristics
• Marital status, household structure, and cancer mortality, incidence, survival, stage, tumor characteristics
• Insurance status and cancer mortality, incidence, survival, stage, tumor characteristics

Applying to Analyze the NLMS or Linked SEER-NLMS Databases

Please use the NLMS and Linked SEER-NLMS Study Proposal Instructions to submit a maximum 2-page proposal outlining the study hypothesis, specification of analysis variables, timeline, and contact information electronically to nlms@imsweb.com. Any additional information can also be obtained by contacting nlms@imsweb.com.

The NLMS is sponsored by the Census Bureau; National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute; National Cancer Institute; National Institute on Aging; and National Center for Health Statistics. For further information see the NLMS Fact Sheet (133 KB - PDF).