Context

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is an on-going survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that assesses a series of health and nutritional outcomes through questionnaires, interviews, and physical examinations. This is a stratified, multistage, probability sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Beginning in 1999, the survey became a continuous program examining roughly 5,000 different individuals each year across a variety of changing health and nutritional measurements to meet emerging public health needs. Data are released in two-year cycles. Between cycles, the measurements are modified, removed, or added over the lifecycle of NHANES. Within each 2-year cycle, there are different target population groups for specific topics within each component.

Content

The 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 datasets in this file include variables related to:

• Demographics
• Blood pressure and Cholesterol
• Social Support
• Diabetes
• Medical
• Physical Function
• Physical Activity
• Strength, Balance, and Body measurements
• Cognitive Function

Information regarding these variables and instruments used can be found here and here

Context

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations. NHANES is a major program of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). NCHS is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has the responsibility for producing vital and health statistics for the Nation.

The NHANES program began in the early 1960s and has been conducted as a series of surveys focusing on different population groups or health topics. In 1999, the survey became a continuous program that has a changing focus on a variety of health and nutrition measurements to meet emerging needs. The survey examines a nationally representative sample of about 5,000 persons each year. These persons are located in counties across the country, 15 of which are visited each year.

The NHANES interview includes demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related questions. The examination component consists of medical, dental, and physiological measurements, as well as laboratory tests administered by highly trained medical personnel.

To date, thousands of research findings have been published using the NHANES data.

Content

The 2013-2014 NHANES datasets include the following components:

1. Demographics dataset:

• A complete variable dictionary can be found here

1. Examinations dataset, which contains:

• Blood pressure

• Body measures

• Muscle strength - grip test

• Oral health - dentition

• Taste & smell

• A complete variable dictionary can be found here

1. Dietary data - total nutrient intake, first day:

• A complete variable dictionary can be found here

1. Laboratory dataset, which includes:

• Albumin & Creatinine - Urine

• Apolipoprotein B

• Blood Lead, Cadmium, Total Mercury, Selenium, and Manganese

• Blood mercury: inorganic, ethyl and methyl

• Cholesterol - HDL

• Cholesterol - LDL & Triglycerides

• Cholesterol - Total

• Complete Blood Count with 5-part Differential - Whole Blood

• Copper, Selenium & Zinc - Serum

• Fasting Questionnaire

• Fluoride - Plasma

• Fluoride - Water

• Glycohemoglobin

• Hepatitis A

• Hepatitis B Surface Antibody

• Hepatitis B: core antibody, surface antigen, and Hepatitis D antibody

• Hepatitis C RNA (HCV-RNA) and Hepatitis C Genotype

• Hepatitis E: IgG & IgM Antibodies

• Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 & Type-2

• HIV Antibody Test

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - Oral Rinse

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA - Vaginal Swab: Roche Cobas & Roche Linear Array

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Results from Penile Swab Samples: Roche Linear Array

• Insulin

• Iodine - Urine

• Perchlorate, Nitrate & Thiocyanate - Urine

• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (formerly Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals - PFC)

• Personal Care and Consumer Product Chemicals and Metabolites

• Phthalates and Plasticizers Metabolites - Urine

• Plasma Fasting Glucose

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) - Urine

• Standard Biochemistry Profile

• Tissue Transglutaminase Assay (IgA-TTG) & IgA Endomyseal Antibody Assay (IgA EMA)

• Trichomonas - Urine

• Two-hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

• Urinary Chlamydia

• Urinary Mercury

• Urinary Speciated Arsenics

• Urinary Total Arsenic

• Urine Flow Rate

• Urine Metals

• Urine Pregnancy Test

• Vitamin B12

• A complete data dictionary can be found here

1. Questionnaire dataset, which includes information on:

• Acculturation

• Alcohol Use

• Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

• Cardiovascular Health

• Consumer Behavior

• Current Health Status

• Dermatology

• Diabetes

• Diet Behavior & Nutrition

• Disability

• Drug Use

• Early Childhood

• Food Security

• Health Insurance

• Hepatitis

• Hospital Utilization & Access to Care

• Housing Characteristics

• Immunization

• Income

• Medical Conditions

• Mental Health - Depression Screener

• Occupation

• Oral Health

• Osteoporosis

• Pesticide Use

• Physical Activity

• Physical Functioning

• Preventive Aspirin Use

• Reproductive Health

• Sexual Behavior

• Sleep Disorders

• Smoki...

As of January 2024, this is the most recent NHANES dataset whose data collection was not affected by COVID-19.

Context

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations. NHANES is a major program of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). NCHS is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has the responsibility for producing vital and health statistics for the Nation.

The NHANES program began in the early 1960s and has been conducted as a series of surveys focusing on different population groups or health topics. In 1999, the survey became a continuous program that has a changing focus on a variety of health and nutrition measurements to meet emerging needs. The survey examines a nationally representative sample of about 5,000 persons each year. These persons are located in counties across the country, 15 of which are visited each year.

The NHANES interview includes demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related questions. The examination component consists of medical, dental, and physiological measurements, as well as laboratory tests administered by highly trained medical personnel.

To date, thousands of research findings have been published using the NHANES data.

Content

The 2017-2018 NHANES datasets include the following components:

1. Demographics dataset:

• A complete variable dictionary can be found here

2. Examinations dataset, which contains factors like:

• Blood pressure

• Body measures

• Muscle strength - grip test

• Oral health - dentition

• Taste & smell

• A complete variable dictionary can be found here

3. Dietary data - total nutrient intake:

• A complete variable dictionary can be found here

4. Laboratory dataset, which includes factors like:

• Albumin & Creatinine - Urine

• Apolipoprotein B

• Blood Lead, Cadmium, Total Mercury, Selenium, and Manganese

• Blood mercury: inorganic, ethyl and methyl

• Cholesterol - HDL

• Cholesterol - LDL & Triglycerides

• Cholesterol - Total

• Complete Blood Count with 5-part Differential - Whole Blood

• Copper, Selenium & Zinc - Serum

• Fasting Questionnaire

• Fluoride - Plasma

• Fluoride - Water

• Glycohemoglobin

• Hepatitis A

• Hepatitis B Surface Antibody

• Hepatitis B: core antibody, surface antigen, and Hepatitis D antibody

• Hepatitis C RNA (HCV-RNA) and Hepatitis C Genotype

• Hepatitis E: IgG & IgM Antibodies

• Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 & Type-2

• HIV Antibody Test

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - Oral Rinse

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA - Vaginal Swab: Roche Cobas & Roche Linear Array

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Results from Penile Swab Samples: Roche Linear Array

• Insulin

• Iodine - Urine

• Perchlorate, Nitrate & Thiocyanate - Urine

• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (formerly Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals - PFC)

• Personal Care and Consumer Product Chemicals and Metabolites

• Phthalates and Plasticizers Metabolites - Urine

• Plasma Fasting Glucose

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) - Urine

• Standard Biochemistry Profile

• Tissue Transglutaminase Assay (IgA-TTG) & IgA Endomyseal Antibody Assay (IgA EMA)

• Trichomonas - Urine

• Two-hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

• Urinary Chlamydia

• Urinary Mercury

• Urinary Speciated Arsenics

• Urinary Total Arsenic

• Urine Flow Rate

• Urine Metals

• Urine Pregnancy Test

• Vitamin B12

• A complete variable dictionary can be found here

5. Questionnaire dataset, which includes items like:

• Acculturation

• Alcohol Use

• Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

• Cardiovascular Health

• Consumer Behavior

• Current Health Status

• Dermatology

• Diabetes

• Diet Behavior & Nutrition

• Disability

• Drug Use

• Early Childhood

• Food Security

• Health Insurance

• Hepatitis

• Hospital Utilization & Access to Care

• Housing Characteristics

• Immunization

• Income

• Medical Conditions

• Mental Health - Depression Screener

• Occupation

• Oral Health

• Osteoporosis

• Pesticide Use

• Physical Activity

• Physical Functioning

• Preventive Aspirin Us...

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The NHANES combines personal interviews and physical examinations, which focus on different population groups or health topics. These surveys have been conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) on a periodic basis from 1971 to 1994. In 1999 the NHANES became a continuous program with a changing focus on a variety of health and nutrition measurements which were designed to meet current and emerging concerns. The surveys examine a nationally representative sample of approximately 5,000 persons each year. These persons are located in counties across the United States, 15 of which are visited each year. For NHANES 2007-2008, there were 12,946 persons selected for the sample, 10,149 of those were interviewed (78.4 percent) and 9,762 (75.4 percent) were examined in the mobile examination centers (MEC). Many of the NHANES 2007-2008 questions were also asked in NHANES II 1976-1980, Hispanic HANES 1982-1984, NHANES III 1988-1994, and NHANES 1999-2006. New questions were added to the survey based on recommendations from survey collaborators, NCHS staff, and other interagency work groups. As in past health examination surveys, data were collected on the prevalence of chronic conditions in the population. Estimates for previously undiagnosed conditions, as well as those known to and reported by survey respondents, are produced through the survey. Risk factors, those aspects of a person's lifestyle, constitution, heredity, or environment that may increase the chances of developing a certain disease or condition, were examined. Data on smoking, alcohol consumption, sexual practices, drug use, physical fitness and activity, weight, and dietary intake were collected. Information on certain aspects of reproductive health, such as use of oral contraceptives and breastfeeding practices, were also collected. The diseases, medical conditions, and health indicators that were studied include: anemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and lower extremity disease, environmental exposures, equilibrium, hearing loss, infectious diseases and immunization, kidney disease, mental health and cognitive functioning, nutrition, obesity, oral health, osteoporosis, physical fitness and physical functioning, reproductive history and sexual behavior, respiratory disease (asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema), sexually transmitted diseases, skin diseases, and vision. The sample for the survey was selected to represent the United States population of all ages. The NHANES target population is the civilian, noninstitutionalized United States population. Beginning in 2007, some changes were made to the domains being oversampled. The primary change is the oversampling of the entire Hispanic population instead of just the Mexican American (MA) population, which has been oversampled since 1988. Sufficient numbers of MAs were retained in the sample design so that trends in the health of MAs can continue to be monitored. Persons 60 years of age and older, Blacks, and low income persons were also oversampled. In addition, for each of the race/ethnicity domains, the 12-15 and 16-19 year age domains were combined and the 40-59 year age minority domains were split into 10-year age domains of 40-49 and 50-59. This has led to an increase in the number of participants aged 40 and older and a decrease in 12- to 19-year-olds from previous cycles. The oversample of pregnant women and adolescents in the survey from 1999-2006 was discontinued to allow for the oversampling of the Hispanic population. NCHS is working with public health agencies to increase knowledge of the health status of older Americans. NHANES has a primary role in this endeavor. In the examination, all participants visit the physician who takes their pulse or blood pressure. Dietary interviews and body measurements are included for everyone. All but the very young have a blood sample taken and see the dentist. Depending upon the age of the participant, the rest of the examination includes tests and procedures to assess the various aspects of health listed above. Usually, the older the individual, the more extensive the examination. Demographic data file variables are grouped into three broad categories: (1)

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a population survey implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor the health of the United States whose data is publicly available in hundreds of files. This Data Descriptor describes a single unified and universally accessible data file, merging across 255 separate files and stitching data across 4 surveys, encompassing 41,474 individuals and 1,191 variables. The variables consist of phenotype and environmental exposure information on each individual, specifically (1) demographic information, physical exam results (e.g., height, body mass index), laboratory results (e.g., cholesterol, glucose, and environmental exposures), and (4) questionnaire items. Second, the data descriptor describes a dictionary to enable analysts find variables by category and human-readable description. The datasets are available on DataDryad and a hands-on analytics tutorial is available on GitHub. Through a new big data platform, BD2K Patient Centered Information Commons (http://pic-sure.org), we provide a new way to browse the dataset via a web browser (https://nhanes.hms.harvard.edu) and provide application programming interface for programmatic access.