This page contains new publications, journal articles, and conference materials released by the National Center for Health Statistics. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/index.htm http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/images/cdclogo.jpg http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/index.htm 95 61 en-US cdcinfo@cdc.gov (NCHS Inquiries) Health Public Health Teen birth rates fell steeply in the United States from 2007 through 2011, resuming a decline that began in 1991 but was briefly interrupted in 2006 and 2007. The overall rate declined 25% from 41.5 per 1,000 teenagers aged 15–19 in 2007 to 31.3 in 2011—a record low. The number of births to teenagers aged 15–19 also fell from 2007 to 2011, by 26% to 329,797 in 2011. Births to teenagers are at elevated risk of low birthweight, preterm birth, and of dying in infancy compared with infants born to women aged 20 and over, and they are associated with significant public costs, estimated at $10.9 billion annually. Recent trends by state and race and Hispanic origin are illustrated using the most current available data from the National Vital Statistics System. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628591 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628591 Thu, 23 May 2013 08:25:00 EST This report presents selected prevalence estimates for key health behaviors—alcohol use, cigarette smoking, leisure-time physical activity, body mass index, and sleep—among U.S. adults, using data from the 2008–2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). NHIS is a continuous survey conducted annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. Estimates are shown for several sociodemographic subgroups for both sexes combined and for men and women separately. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628585 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628585 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:20:00 EST This report presents national estimates on the adoption and use of electronic health records and mobile technology by home health and hospice care agencies, as well as the agency characteristics associated with adoption. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628584 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628584 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:19:00 EST Allergic conditions are among the most common medical conditions affecting children in the United States. An allergic condition is a hypersensitivity disorder in which the immune system reacts to substances in the environment that are normally considered harmless. Food or digestive allergies, skin allergies (such as eczema), and respiratory allergies (such as hay fever) are the most common allergies among children. Allergies can affect a child's physical and emotional health and can interfere with daily activities, such as sleep, play, and attending school. A severe allergic reaction with rapid onset, anaphylaxis, can be life threatening. Foods represent the most common cause of anaphylaxis among children and adolescents. Early detection and appropriate interventions can help to decrease the negative impact of allergies on quality of life. This report presents recent trends in the prevalence of allergies and differences by selected sociodemographic characteristics for children under age 18 years. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628345 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628345 Thu, 02 May 2013 08:47:00 EST Increased consumption of added sugars, which are sweeteners added to processed and prepared foods, has been linked to a decrease in intake of essential micronutrients and an increase in body weight. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 recommends limiting total intake of discretionary calories, including both added sugars and solid fats, to 5%–15% per day. Recent analyses indicate that children and adolescents obtain approximately 16% of their total caloric intake from added sugars. This data brief presents results for consumption of added sugars among U.S. adults for 2005–2010. Results are presented by sex, age, race and ethnicity, income, type of food consumed (food or beverage), and location of consumption. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628344 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628344 Wed, 01 May 2013 08:46:00 EST Infant mortality is an important indicator of the health of a nation. This report describes the recent decline in the U.S. infant mortality rate from 2005 through 2011. Changes in infant mortality rates over time are examined by age at death, maternal race and ethnicity, cause of death, and state. The linked birth/infant death data set (linked file) is generally the preferred source for infant mortality rates by race and ethnicity. This is particularly important for racial and ethnic groups other than non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic. For these three groups, rates calculated from the mortality and linked files have been very similar for many years, and trends are unlikely to differ. Thus, data from the mortality file are used for this analysis because of their greater timeliness. Data for 2011 are preliminary. Because preliminary data are not available by state, data for the 2005–2010 period were used for the geographic analysis. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628138 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628138 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:24:00 EST In 2011, Americans spent $45 billion out-of-pocket on retail prescription drugs. Some adults reduce prescription drug costs by skipping doses and delaying filling prescriptions. Some cost-reduction strategies used by adults have been associated with negative health outcomes. For example, adults who do not take prescription medication as prescribed have been shown to have poorer health status and increased emergency room use, hospitalizations, and cardiovascular events. This report analyzes different strategies used by U.S. adults to reduce their prescription drug costs, by age, health insurance status, and poverty status, using data from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628076 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8628076 Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:14:00 EST This report provides an updated description of trends and patterns in first premarital cohabitations among women aged 15–44 in the United States using the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). Trends in pregnancies within first premarital cohabiting unions and differences by Hispanic origin and race, and education are also presented. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627967 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627967 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST Each year, more than 2 million Americans suffer from acute cardiovascular events that account for approximately one-fourth of the total cost of inpatient hospital care. Control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL–C) has been shown to substantially reduce cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. High LDL–C is LDL cholesterol above the treatment goals established by the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. It can be managed with lifestyle changes, medications, or a combination of these approaches. A diet low in saturated fat is recognized as one of the most effective lifestyle changes to decrease high LDL–C. This report evaluates the trends in high LDL–C, use of cholesterol-lowering medication, and low dietary saturated-fat intake from 1976–1980 through 2007–2010 among adults aged 40–74. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627956 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627956 Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:40:00 EST In 2000, there were 2.4 million deaths in the United States, and in 2010 there were 2.5 million. In both years, about one-third of these deaths occurred in short-stay, general hospitals, despite research that found that most Americans prefer to die in their own homes. This report presents National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) data from 2000 through 2010 on patients who died during hospitalization. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627955 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627955 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:39:00 EST In this release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) updates estimates for 15 selected health measures based on data from the January–September 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and presents estimates from 1997 through 2011 for comparison. The 15 Early Release measures are being published prior to final data editing and final weighting to provide access to the most recent information from NHIS. The estimates will be updated as each new quarter of NHIS data becomes available. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627744 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627744 Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:33:00 EST The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is releasing selected estimates of health insurance coverage for the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population based on data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), along with comparable estimates from the 1997–2011 NHIS. Data analyses for the January–September 2012 NHIS were based on 80,618 persons in the Family Core http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627743 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627743 Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:31:00 EST This report presents data on the prevalence of diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as reported by parents of school-aged children (ages 6–17 years) in 2011–2012. Prevalence changes from 2007 to 2011–2012 were evaluated using cohort analyses that examine the consistency in the 2007 and 2011–2012 estimates for children whose diagnoses could have been reported in both surveys (i.e., those born in 1994–2005 and diagnosed in or before 2007). http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627733 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627733 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:44:00 EST In 2010, Alzheimer's disease was the underlying cause for a total of 83,494 deaths and was classified as a contributing cause for an additional 26,488 deaths (1). Mortality from Alzheimer's disease has steadily increased during the last 30 years. Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause for people aged 65 years and over (1). An estimated 5.4 million persons in the United States have Alzheimer's disease (2). The cost of health care for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia was estimated to be 200 billion dollars in 2012, including 140 billion dollars in costs to Medicare and Medicaid and is expected to reach 1.1 trillion dollars in 2050 (2). Alzheimer's disease mortality varies by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and geographic area. This report presents mortality data on Alzheimer's disease based on data from the National Vital Statistics System from 2000 through 2010, the most recent year for which detailed data are available. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627732 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627732 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:43:00 EST In 2011, the age-adjusted death rate for the United States was 740.6 per 100,000 population (1). This rate represents a 0.9% drop from the rate in 2010 (747.0), and is a record low. The highest mortality was observed for the non-Hispanic black population (903.9), followed by the non-Hispanic white population (753.9). Death rates for all race groups of the U.S. population generally have been decreasing since 1935 (2), and the rates for the Hispanic population have been declining since the late 1990s (3). Data for 2011 maintain that trend. The figures presented in this report are based on preliminary mortality data for 2011 and final data for 2000–2010. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627731 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627731 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:43:00 EST This report presents the percentage of calories consumed from fast food by adults in the United States, including differences by sociodemographic characteristics and weight status. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627577 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627577 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:45:00 EST The objective of this report is to present trends in energy and macronutrient intakes among U.S. children and adolescents aged 2–19 years between 1999 and 2010. These results are presented by sex, age group, and race and ethnicity. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627576 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627576 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:44:00 EST Emergency contraception can be used by women after sexual intercourse in an effort to prevent an unintended pregnancy. Roughly one-half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. The FDA first approved emergency contraceptive pills in 1998, but there is evidence of limited use of hormonal contraceptives for emergency contraception since the 1960s. Now, there are at least four brands of emergency contraceptive pills; most are available over the counter for women aged 17 and over. Although insertion of a copper intrauterine device can be used for emergency contraception, this report focuses only on emergency contraceptive pills. This report describes trends and variation in the use of emergency contraception and reasons for use among sexually experienced women aged 15–44 using the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627281 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627281 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:51:00 EST This report presents national estimates of the proportion of sexually experienced women aged 15–44 who have ever used various methods of contraception in the United States. Trends are shown since 1982, and results are shown by Hispanic origin and race, education, and religious affiliation. The number of methods ever used is also shown, along with reasons for stopping use of selected methods. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627280 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627280 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:50:00 EST In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new set of childhood growth charts for the United States. These charts included a set of smoothed percentiles along with LMS (lambda-mu-sigma) parameters to allow the calculation of other percentiles or standard deviation scores. These parameters resemble the LMS parameters derived using Cole’s LMS method. Similarities in the terminology mask differences in the methods used. This brief commentary is intended to clarify these differences. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627279 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627279 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:49:00 EST This report presents 2009 period infant mortality statistics from the linked birth/infant death data set (linked file) by maternal and infant characteristics. The linked file differs from the mortality file which is based entirely on death certificate data. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627016 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627016 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:32:00 EST This report presents health statistics from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for the civilian noninstitutionalized adult population, classified by sex, age, race and Hispanic origin, education, family income, poverty status, health insurance coverage, marital status, and place and region of residence. Estimates (frequencies and percentages) are presented for selected chronic conditions and mental health characteristics, functional limitations, health status, health behaviors, health care access and utilization, and human immunodeficiency virus testing. Percentages and percent distributions are presented in both age-adjusted and unadjusted versions. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627015 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8627015 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 10:30:00 EST This report is published as part of the NHIS Early Release Program. Twice each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) releases selected estimates of telephone coverage for the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population based on data from NHIS, along with comparable estimates from NHIS for the previous 3 years. The estimates are based on in-person interviews that NHIS conducts continuously throughout the year to collect information on health status, health-related behaviors, and health care access and utilization. The survey also includes information about household telephones and whether anyone in the household has a wireless telephone. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626700 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626700 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:01:00 EST In this release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) updates estimates for 15 selected health measures based on data from the January–June 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and presents estimates from 1997 through 2011 for comparison. The 15 Early Release measures are being published prior to final data editing and final weighting to provide access to the most recent information from NHIS. The estimates will be updated as each new quarter of NHIS data becomes available. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626669 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626669 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:01:00 EST The 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, also known as the HITECH Act, authorized incentive payments through the Medicare and Medicaid programs to increase physician adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems. To receive an EHR incentive payment, physicians must show that they are "meaningfully using" certified EHRs by meeting certain objectives. This report describes trends in adoption of electronic medical record or electronic health record (EMR/EHR) systems from 2001 to 2012, as well as physicians' intent to participate in the EHR Incentive Programs and their readiness to meet 13 of the Stage 1 Core Set objectives for "meaningful use" in 2012, the second year of the incentive programs. Data are reported from the 2012 mail survey of physicians in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and earlier years of NAMCS. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626641 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626641 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:01:00 EST The provisional count of births in the United States for the 12-month period ending June 2012 was 3,942,000, which was 1% lower than the 3,981,000 births (provisional count) for the 12-month period ending June 20111. The number of births has steadily declined from the historic high of 4,316,233 in 20072,3, but the rate of decline has slowed from 2010 through June 2012. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626595 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626595 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:01:00 EST This report presents both age-adjusted and unadjusted health statistics from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Estimates are disaggregated by sex, age, race, Hispanic origin, education, family income, poverty status, health insurance coverage (where appropriate), place of residence, and region of residence. The topics covered are respondent-assessed health status, limitations in activities, special education or early intervention services, injury and poisoning episodes, health care access and utilization, and health insurance coverage. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626583 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626583 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:01:00 EST Although the risks of excessive alcohol consumption in terms of injury and chronic disease are well known, less is known about the calories consumed from alcoholic beverages. As with calorically sweetened beverages, alcoholic beverages are a top contributor to caloric intake but provide few nutrients. Although calories consumed from calorically sweetened beverages have been previously examined, calories from alcoholic beverages have been neglected. This data brief examines the caloric contribution of alcoholic beverages among adults aged 20 and over during 2007–2010, using data from 24-hour dietary recall interviews. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626361 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626361 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:01:00 EST This report details recent trends in asthma prevalence, health care use, and mortality since 2001 and presents an overview of trends since 1980. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626268 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626268 Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:01:00 EST This report presents final 2009 data on the 10 leading causes of death in the United States by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Leading causes of infant, neonatal, and postneonatal death are also presented. This report supplements the Division of Vital Statistics’ annual report of final mortality statistics. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626150 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626150 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:50:00 EST This report is one in a set of reports summarizing data from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a multipurpose health survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). This report provides national estimates for a broad range of health measures for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population of children under age 18 years. Two other reports in this set provide estimates of selected health measures for the U.S. population and for adults. These three volumes of descriptive statistics and highlights are published for each year of NHIS, and since 1997 have replaced the annual, one-volume Current Estimates series. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626149 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626149 Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:44:00 EST The field of anthropometry encompasses a variety of human body measurements, such as weight, height, and size, including skinfold thicknesses, circumferences, lengths, and breadths. Anthropometry is a key component of nutritional status assessment in children and adults (1). Anthropometric data for children reflect general health status, dietary adequacy, and growth and development over time. In adults, body measurement data are used to evaluate health and dietary status, disease risk, and body composition changes that occur over the adult lifespan. This report provides anthropometric reference data from the years 2007–2010 for U.S. children and adults of all ages. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626035 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8626035 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST Use of contraception and the effectiveness of the method used to prevent pregnancy are major factors affecting national pregnancy and birth rates and the ability of women to plan their pregnancies. This report presents national estimates of contraceptive use among women of childbearing age (15–44 years) in 2006–2010. Selected comparisons are made with 1995 data to describe changes in contraceptive use and in method choice over time. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625885 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625885 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a serious medical condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. CHF is often caused by hypertension, diabetes, or coronary heart disease. It is estimated that 5.8 million people in the United States have CHF. CHF is one of the most common reasons those aged 65 and over are hospitalized. This report presents National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) data from 2000 through 2010 on hospitalizations for CHF. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625864 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625864 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST This report updates subnational estimates of the percentage of adults and children living in households without a landline telephone but with at least one wireless telephone (i.e., wireless-only households). State-level estimates for 2011 are presented, as well as estimates for selected U.S. counties and groups of counties, for other household telephone service use categories (e.g., those that had only landlines and those that had landlines yet received all or almost all calls on wireless telephones), and for two earlier 12-month periods (January– December 2010 and July 2010–June 2011). http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625863 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625863 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST Sugar drinks are a major source of added sugars in the diets of Americans. Several recent studies have described factors associated with sugar-drink consumption; however, the consumption of diet drinks among the U.S. population has not been as well-characterized. This report describes the consumption of diet beverages among the U.S. population during 2009?2010 by sex, age, race and ethnicity, and income, and details trends in diet drink consumption from 1999?2000 through 2009?2010. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625862 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625862 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST This report presents preliminary U.S. data on deaths, death rates, life expectancy, leading causes of death, and infant mortality for 2011 by selected characteristics such as age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625861 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625861 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST The mercury sphygmomanometer has been the gold standard used for obtaining blood pressure (BP) for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1960 to the present. However, due to environmental concerns and an increased use of automated oscillometric BP devices, NHANES has been exploring an alternative to using the standard mercury sphygmomanometer (mercury) to measure BP. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625860 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625860 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST This report presents nationally representative estimates and trends for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among the U.S. household population aged 15–44. Data are presented for lifetime experience with HIV testing and HIV testing in the past year, including testing done as part of prenatal care. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625859 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625859 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST This report presents preliminary data for 2011 on births in the United States. U.S. data on births are shown by age, live-birth order, race, and Hispanic origin of mother. Data on marital status, cesarean delivery, preterm births, and low birthweight are also presented. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625632 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625632 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST Significant increases have been seen over the past 10 years in hypertension awareness, treatment, and control among adults with hypertension. However, less than 50% of adults with hypertension controlled their blood pressure (BP) in 2007–2008. The high prevalence of undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension, especially among minority groups, remains a challenge. A recent prediction model showed that every 10% increase in hypertension treatment could prevent an additional 14,000 deaths per year in the adult population ages 25–79. This report examines the most recent national data on hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625631 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625631 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST This report examines the comparability between the rates of inpatient procedures for persons aged 65 and over using the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) and Medicare claims data. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625630 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625630 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EST By 2050, the number of U.S. older adults, defined as persons aged 65 and over, is expected to more than double, rising from 40.2 million to 88.5 million. Both aging and obesity contribute to increased health care service use. Consequently, an increase in the proportion of older adults who are obese may compound health care spending. Given the demographic changes forecasted and the potential health care costs of obesity, it is important to track the prevalence of obesity among older adults. This report presents the most recent national estimates of obesity in older adults, by sex, age, race and ethnicity, and educational attainment, and examines changes in the prevalence of obesity between 1999 and 2010. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625481 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625481 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EST In this release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) updates estimates for 15 selected health measures based on data from the January–March 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and presents estimates from 1997 through 2011 for comparison. The 15 Early Release measures are being published prior to final data editing and final weighting to provide access to the most recent information from NHIS. The estimates will be updated as each new quarter of NHIS data becomes available. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625459 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625459 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:02:00 EST The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is releasing selected estimates of health insurance coverage for the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population based on data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), along with comparable estimates from the 1997–2011 NHIS. Data analyses for the January-March 2012 NHIS were based on 24,186 persons in the Family Core. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625458 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625458 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EST This report presents complete period life tables for the United States by race, Hispanic origin, and sex, based on age-specific death rates in 2008. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625451 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625451 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EST As the overall population ages, policy makers are focusing on the current and growing shortage of the primary care workforce, particularly as provisions of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) expand health insurance coverage. This report presents selected trends in physician shortage measures and access to care measures for generalist physicians and specialists. Generalists are those in the specialties of family practice, general practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics, whereas specialists comprise all other specialties. Estimates are based on physicians who participated in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) by providing data on visits. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625427 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625427 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EST This report, following publication of the national life tables for 1999–2001, presents state-specific life tables for the 50 states and District of Columbia by race (white and black) and sex. These tables are the most recent in a series of decennial life tables for the United States. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625343 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625343 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EST http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625309 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625309 Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:02:00 EST http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625308 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625308 Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EST http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625307 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625307 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:02:00 EST http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625306 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625306 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EST From 1999 through 2009, the number of visits to emergency departments (EDs) increased 32%, from 102.8 million visits in 1999 to 136.1 million visits in 2009. In some hospitals, increased ED visit volume has resulted in ED crowding and increased wait times for minor and sometimes serious problems, such as myocardial infarction. This report describes the recent trend in wait times for treatment in EDs, and focuses on how wait times for treatment varied by two ED crowding measures: ambulance diversions and boarding of admitted patients. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625305 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625305 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:03:00 EST This report presents 2010 data on U.S. births according to a wide variety of characteristics. Data are presented for maternal characteristics including age, live-birth order, race and Hispanic origin, marital status, attendant at birth, method of delivery, and infant characteristics (period of gestation, birthweight, and plurality). Birth and fertility rates by age, live-birth order, race and Hispanic origin, and marital status also are presented. Selected data by mother's state of residence are shown, as well as birth rates by age and race of father. Trends in fertility patterns and maternal and infant characteristics are described and interpreted. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625115 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625115 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:02:00 EST This report presents 2006 fetal and perinatal mortality data by maternal age, marital status, race, Hispanic origin, and state of residence, as well as by fetal birthweight, gestational age, plurality, and sex. Trends in fetal and perinatal mortality are also examined. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625114 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625114 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:01:00 EST The Healthy People 2020 initiative contains over 1,200 objectives that serve as a roadmap for tracking the nation's health. Oral health is 1 of 42 Healthy People topic areas comprising 33 objectives ranging from dental caries and periodontal disease, to access to preventive dental services and program infrastructure. One important activity of Healthy People is to monitor health disparities. Influential sociodemographic indicators for oral health disparities in the United States include poverty status and race and ethnicity. This report focuses on key Healthy People objectives covering select age groups by race and ethnicity and poverty status from 2009 to 2010. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625036 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625036 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:01:00 EST These tables present detailed fertility data for cohorts of women as they pass through their childbearing years and include central birth rates, cumulative birth rates, birth distributions, and birth probabilities. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625014 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8625014 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:01:00 EST This report presents data on the prevalence of oral sex with opposite-sex partners and the timing of first oral sex relative to first vaginal intercourse among females and males aged 15–24 based on the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) data from 2007–2010. The question on timing, added to the NSFG in 2007, asked females and males whether first oral sex occurred before, after, or on the same occasion as their first vaginal intercourse. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624967 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624967 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 00:01:00 EST Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are all risk factors that could lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke. The recently announced Million Hearts Initiative is aimed at preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next 5 years . This report expands on results previously published by presenting the most recent prevalence estimates and trends of uncontrolled high blood pressure, uncontrolled high levels of low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL-C), and current cigarette smoking among adults aged 20 and over. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624966 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624966 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 00:01:00 EST This report uses data from the 2007–2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to describe the health status of community-dwelling male veterans aged 25–64. It directly compares the health status of veterans with nonveterans on a variety of measures. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624824 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624824 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EST Studies suggest that the presence of multiple chronic conditions (MCC) adds a layer of complexity to disease management; recently the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established a strategic framework for improving the health of this population. This report presents estimates of the population aged 45 and over with two or more of nine self-reported chronic conditions, using a definition of MCC that was consistent in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) over the recent 10-year period: hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, current asthma, and kidney disease. Examining trends in the prevalence of MCC informs policy on chronic disease management and prevention, and helps to predict future health care needs and use for Medicare and other payers. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624754 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624754 Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST Mortality in the United States is best summarized by the age-adjusted death rate—a measure that accounts for changes in the age distribution of the population. In 2010, the age-adjusted death rate for the United States was 746.2 per 100,000 population. This represents a 0.5 percent drop from the rate in 2009 (749.6). The highest mortality was observed for the non-Hispanic black population (918.1) followed by the non-Hispanic white population (754.1). Still, death rates for all race and ethnic groups have generally been decreasing since 1950. Much of the recent improvements in death rates and life expectancy for all population groups can be attributed to ongoing reductions in death rates from major causes of death such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. The figures presented in this report are based on preliminary mortality data for 2010 and final data for 2000-2009. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624753 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624753 Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST This report shows trends since 1982 in whether a woman wanted to get pregnant just before the pregnancy occurred. This is the most direct measure available of the extent to which women are able (or unable) to choose to have the number of births they want, when they want them. In this report, this is called the ‘‘standard measure of unintended pregnancy.’’ http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624662 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624662 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624602 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624602 Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST This report presents statistics from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) on selected measures of oral health status and oral health care access for adults aged 18–64. Estimates are presented by sex, age, race and ethnicity, nativity, education, poverty status, health and dental insurance status, region, place of residence, dentition status, current smoking status, current drinking status, and diabetes status. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624601 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624601 Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST One goal of the federal 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act is to advance the use of health information technology by providing Medicare and Medicaid incentives to physicians and hospitals that adopt and demonstrate "meaningful use" (MU) of electronic health record (EHR) systems. This report presents a nationally representative profile of physician use of EHR systems. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624600 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624600 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST The signature report of the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being features statistics on children and families in the United States across a range of domains, including family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education and health. A working group of 22 Federal agencies, the Forum fosters coordination, collaboration, and integration of Federal efforts to collect, analyze and report data on conditions and trends in issues related to child and family well-being. The Forum also has partners in private research organizations. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624530 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624530 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST Biological variation consists of between-person (BP) and within-person (WP) variation. Estimates of WP coefficients of variation and BP coefficients of variation for hematology laboratory tests were estimated from the 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624529 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624529 Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST For random-digit-dial telephone surveys, the increasing difficulty in contacting eligible households and obtaining their cooperation raises concerns about the potential for nonresponse bias. This report presents an analysis of nonresponse bias in the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, a module of the State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624404 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624404 Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:15:00 EST Preliminary results from the July–December 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) indicate that the number of American homes with only wireless telephones continues to grow. One-third of American homes (34.0%) had only wireless telephones (also known as cellular telephones, cell phones, or mobile phones) during the second half of 2011—an increase of 2.4 percentage points since the first half of 2011. In addition, nearly one of every six American homes (16.0%) received all or almost all calls on wireless telephones despite also having a landline telephone. This report presents the most up-to-date estimates available from the federal government concerning the size and characteristics of these populations. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624373 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624373 Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:01:00 EST This report presents final 2009 data on U.S. deaths, death rates, life expectancy, infant mortality, and trends by selected characteristics such as age, sex, Hispanic origin, race, state of residence, and cause of death. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624372 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624372 Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST This report presents detailed pregnancy rates for 1990–2008, updating a national series of rates extending since 1976. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624289 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624289 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EST The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is releasing selected estimates of health insurance coverage for the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population based on data from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), along with comparable estimates from the 1997–2010 NHIS. Data analyses for the 2011 NHIS were based on 101,577 persons in the Family Core. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624287 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624287 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:01:00 EST In this release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) updates estimates for 15 selected health measures based on data from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and presents estimates from 1997 through 2010 for comparison. The 15 Early Release measures are being published prior to final data editing and final weighting to provide access to the most recent information from NHIS. The estimates will be updated as each new quarter of NHIS data becomes available. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624288 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624288 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:01:00 EST This report presents final 2008 data on the 10 leading causes of death in the United States by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Leading causes of infant, neonatal, and postneonatal death are also presented. This report supplements the Division of Vital Statistics’ annual report of final mortality statistics. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624132 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624132 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EST This report presents the development, plan, and operation of the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, a module of the State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. This survey was designed to produce national and state-specific prevalence estimates for a variety of physical, emotional, and behavioral health indicators and measures of children’s experiences with the health care system. The survey also includes questions about the family (for example, parents’ health status, stress and coping behaviors, family activities) and about respondents’ perceptions of the neighborhoods where their children live. Funding and direction for this survey was provided by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624126 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624126 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EST Oral health is an important contributor to overall health for individuals and the population. Dental caries both untreated and treated and tooth loss are key indicators of oral health and are used to monitor oral health status in the United States and internationally. Although prevalence of dental caries has been declining in the United States, the magnitude of the decline has varied across different population groups during the past two decades. Tooth loss also has been declining in the United States, mostly due to improvements in treatment modalities, patient attitudes regarding tooth preservation, and better prevention. Plastic-like coatings (dental sealants) have been applied to the chewing surfaces of children's teeth to prevent tooth decay and to some extent tooth loss. This report describes the prevalence of untreated dental caries, existing dental restorations, dental sealants, and tooth loss in the United States by age, race and ethnicity, and poverty level in 2005–2008. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624107 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624107 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST The provisional count of births in the United States for 2011 was 3,961,000, 1 percent lower than the 4 million births for 2010 (4,000,279). The number of births has steadily declined from the all-time high of 4,316,233 in 2007, however, the rate of decline slowed from 2010 to 2011. The provisional fertility rate in the United States for 2011 declined 1 percent to 63.4 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44 from 64.1 for 2010. As with the number of births, the fertility rate has steadily declined from the recent high of 69.3 in 2007, although the rate of decline slowed in 2011. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624030 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8624030 Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 EST Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a set of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by mild to severe problems in social interaction and communication along with restricted repetitive behavior patterns. ASD symptoms begin before age 3 years and last into adulthood, although symptoms may improve over time. There is no one best treatment for ASD, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends early behavioral intervention once a child is diagnosed. Nearly all children (94%) with ASD have special health care needs, defined as requiring health or related services beyond those required by children generally. This report provides information on diagnosis and treatment of school-aged (6–17 years) children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and ASD. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623991 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623991 Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 EST This report provides preliminary estimates of reasons for emergency room use among U.S adults aged 18–64 whose last visit in the past 12 months did not result in a hospital admission, by health insurance status, area of residence (within or outside an MSA), and other selected variables. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623972 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623972 Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 EST This report will first describe the broad design specifications for the 1999–2006 survey including survey objectives, domain and precision specifications, operational requirements, sample design, and estimations procedures. Details of the sample design are divided into two sections. The first section (NHANES 1999–2001 Sample Design) broadly describes the sample design and various design changes during the first three years of the continuous NHANES (1999–2001). The second section (NHANES 2002–2006 Sample Design) describes the final sample design developed and applied for 2002–2006. Weighting and variance estimation procedures are presented in the same manner; however, to correspond to the public data release cycles, the weighting and variance sections are separated into those used for 1999–2002, and those used for 2003–2006. Much of this report is based on survey operations documents and sample design reports prepared by Westat. Documentation of the survey content, procedures, and methods to assess nonsampling errors are reported elsewhere. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623971 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623971 Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 EST Health, United States, 2011 is the 35th report on the health status of the Nation and is submitted by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to the President and the Congress of the United States in compliance with Section 308 of the Public Health Service Act. This report was compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics served in a review capacity. The Health, United States series presents an annual look at national trends in health statistics. The report contains a Chartbook that assesses the Nation’s health by presenting trends and current information on selected measures of morbidity, mortality, health care utilization, health risk factors, prevention, health insurance, and personal health care expenditures. This year’s Chartbook includes a Special Feature on Socioeconomic Status and Health. The report also contains 151 Trend Tables organized around four major subject areas: health status and determinants, health care utilization, health care resources, and health care expenditures. A companion product to Health, United States—Health, United States: In Brief—features information extracted from the full report. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623910 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623910 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EST