2019 Public-Use Linked Mortality Files

Public-use Linked Mortality Files (LMF) are available for 1986-2018 NHIS, 1999-2018 NHANES, and NHANES III. The files include a limited set of mortality variables for adult participants only. The public-use versions of the NCHS Linked Mortality Files were subjected to data perturbation techniques to reduce the risk of participant re-identification. For select records, synthetic data were substituted for follow-up time or underlying cause of death. Information regarding vital status was not perturbed.

For information about accessing the restricted-use linked mortality files, please consult the Restricted-Use Linked Mortality Data page.

Data Files and Data Dictionaries

• File Description: Public-Use 2019 LMF [PDF – 180 KB]
• Public-Use Data Dictionary: Public-Use 2019 LMF [PDF – 109 KB]
• Public-Use Linked Mortality Files: FTP Site
• Software Programs:
  • Sample SAS program [SAS – 12 KB]
  • Sample Stata program [DO – 6 KB]
  • Sample R program