Data linkage of German statutory health insurance claims data and care needs assessments preceding a population-based cohort study on nursing home admission.

Data linkage between German SHI claims data and CNA data is feasible. Failure to link was mostly attributable to a lack of distinction between individuals using available identifiers. The resulting dataset contains relevant information from both health services provision and functional status of care dependent people and is suitable for further analyses with critical reflection of representativity.