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...

ContextThe development and progression of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but there are no studies to demonstrate whether blood glucose levels are associated with the progression of NAFLD.ObjectiveAlterations in glucose metabolism may cause hepatic steatosis and inflammatory responses, leading to hepatocyte damage and promoting NAFLD’s progression. Since glycohemoglobin reflects current blood glucose levels and is easily detectable, the present study aimed to investigate whether glycohemoglobin is associated with liver stiffness in patients with NAFLD.MethodsWe studied 1510 NAFLD patients aged 20-80 in NHANES 2017- March 2020, who were defined using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥263 dB/m. Multivariable linear regressions were used to assess the independent association between glycohemoglobin and median liver stiffness measurements (LSM) after adjusting for potential confounders. Subsequently, they were subjected to curve fitting and threshold effect analysis. Stratified analysis was used to find the variables affecting the relationship.ResultsGlycohemoglobin and median LSM showed a positive correlation in different models (β (95% CI): Crude Model: 1.460 (1.053, 1.867); Model 1: 1.476 (1.066, 1.885); Model 2: 1.517 (0.919, 2.115)), and this correlation disappeared when glycohemoglobin ≥8.6%. Furthermore, this correlation was more pronounced in the non-diabetic and former smoking subgroups.ConclusionIn patients with NAFLD, glycohemoglobin may reflect the degree of liver stiffness, and preventing excessive glycohemoglobin may have a positive effect on slowing the progression of NAFLD especially in non-diabetic and former smokers.