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 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 This report presents 2008 period infant mortality statistics from the linked birth/infant death data set (linked file) by a variety of maternal and infant characteristics. The linked file differs from the mortality file which is based entirely on death certificate data. A reformatted, typeset version of this report will replace the current version. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623836 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623836 Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 EST An estimated 7 million Americans have had a stroke (cerebrovascular disease). In 2008, direct medical costs of stroke were about $18.8 billion, with almost half of this amount being for hospitalization. Stroke was the fourth leading U.S. cause of death in 2009 and 2010. Numerous public health campaigns have sought to educate the public on how to lower stroke risk: for example, by increasing physical activity, controlling weight, stopping smoking, and taking medication to lower high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This report examines nationally representative data from 1989 to 2009 to see how inpatient hospital care for stroke has changed. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623829 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623829 Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 EST National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) records have been linked to health care use and expenditure information from Medicare records. Claims data are generally available only for traditional fee-forservice (FFS) enrollees and not for Medicare Advantage enrollees. Differences in health characteristics between Medicare Advantage and traditional FFS enrollees could affect conclusions from analyses of the linked files that are restricted to traditional FFS enrollees. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623807 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623807 Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 EST Previous studies have examined patterns of health care utilization among young adults. Low wages or temporary jobs typically available to young adults upon graduation from high school or college often come with limited or no health benefits. Disruption of health insurance coverage can introduce barriers to health care and leave young adults vulnerable to high out-of-pocket expenses in the event of a serious illness or injury. In March 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) legislation was passed. One of ACA’s early provisions was the extension of dependent private health insurance coverage for young adults up to age 26. This report provides preliminary estimates of access to and utilization of health care among young adults aged 19–25, using National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data collected from January through September 2011. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623765 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623765 Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 EST Asthma is a common chronic airway disorder characterized by periods of reversible airflow obstruction known as asthma attacks. Airflow is obstructed by inflammation and airway hyperreactivity (contraction of the small muscles surrounding the airways) in reaction to certain exposures. Exposures include exercise, infection, allergens (e.g., pollen), occupational exposures (e.g., chemicals), and airborne irritants (e.g., environmental tobacco smoke). Symptoms may include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. It is not clear how to prevent asthma from developing and there is no cure. Yet the means to control and prevent exacerbations in persons who have asthma are well established in evidence-based clinical guidelines. This report presents recent data for trends in asthma prevalence, health care encounters, and mortality. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623757 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623757 Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 EST High total cholesterol and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are major risk factors for coronary heart disease, including heart attacks. To identify persons who may be at risk of developing coronary heart disease, the Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that adults be screened for cholesterol. This report presents the most recent prevalence estimates of high total cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, and cholesterol screening. Trends over the last 12 years for high total cholesterol are also presented. Analysis is based only on measured cholesterol and does not take into account whether medications are taken. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623661 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623661 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST Many current clinical guidelines recommend that assessment of osteoporosis or low bone mass, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), be based on bone mineral density at either the femur neck region of the proximal femur (hip) or the lumbar spine. This data brief presents the most recent national data on osteoporosis or low bone mass at either the femur neck or lumbar spine among older adults in the United States population based on these WHO categories. Results are presented by age, sex, and race and ethnicity. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623756 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623756 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST Antibody prevalence estimates, markers of infection with T. gondii, HAV, CMV, HSV-1 or HSV-2, or vaccination to measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella have been available for the United States but not at the local level. Los Angeles County (LAC) was the only county selected each year into the NHANES sample. Six years of data (1999–2004) were combined to provide sufficient sample size to create the first estimates of antibody prevalence to these nine infectious diseases based on direct laboratory measures for LAC. These estimates of disease burden or immunization success are compared between LAC and the United States. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623608 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623608 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST This report presents national estimates on differences in the use of home health care between men and women aged 65 years and over. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623601 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623601 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST This report presents national estimates of the fertility of men and women aged 15–44 years in the United States in 2006–2010 based on the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). Data are compared with similar measures for 2002. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623555 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623555 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:01:00 EST Using data from the first nationally representative survey of Residential Care Facilities (RCFs) with four or more beds, this report presents national estimates of these RCF residents by selected resident characteristics. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623554 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623554 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST New report illustrates the recent trends and variations in teen childbearing using the most current data available from the National Vital Statistics System. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623524 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623524 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:01:00 EST Learn more about the NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NYFS), a new one-of-a-kind survey that collects data on exercise and nutrition habits of U.S. youth through interviews and fitness tests. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623523 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623523 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST Growing evidence has shown the harmful effects of traffic-related pollution on human health, including adverse respiratory, cardiovascular, and pregnancy outcomes. This report describes the linkage of data from the 1999–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and traffic indicators from the 2005 National Highway Planning Network. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623433 http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=8623433 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST