About BRFSS dataset

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a collaborative project between all of the states in the United States (US) and participating US territories and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BRFSS is administered and supported by CDC’s Population Health Surveillance Branch, under the Division of Population Health at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. BRFSS is an ongoing surveillance system designed to measure behavioral risk factors for the non-institutionalized adult population (18 years of age and older) residing in the US. The BRFSS was initiated in 1984, with 15 states collecting surveillance data on risk behaviors through monthly telephone interviews. Over time, the number of states participating in the survey increased; by 2001, 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands were participating in the BRFSS. Today, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam collect data annually and American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau collect survey data over a limited point- in-time (usually one to three months). In this document, the term “state” is used to refer to all areas participating in BRFSS, including the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Table of Contents

Main Survey - Section 0 - Record Identification

_state: State Fips Code fmonth: File Month idate: Interview Date imonth: Interview Month iday: Interview Day iyear: Interview Year dispcode: Final Disposition seqno: Annual Sequence Number _psu: Primary Sampling Unit ctelenum: Correct Telephone Number? pvtresd1: Private Residence? colghous: Do You Live In College Housing? stateres: Resident Of State cellfon3: Cellular Telephone ladult: Are You 18 Years Of Age Or Older? numadult: Number Of Adults In Household nummen: Number Of Adult Men In Household numwomen: Number Of Adult Women In Household

Main Survey - Section 1 - Health Status

genhlth: General Health

Main Survey - Section 2 - Healthy Days - Health-Related Quality of Life

physhlth: Number Of Days Physical Health Not Good menthlth: Number Of Days Mental Health Not Good poorhlth: Poor Physical Or Mental Health

Main Survey - Section 3 - Health Care Access

hlthpln1: Have Any Health Care Coverage persdoc2: Multiple Health Care Professionals medcost: Could Not See Dr. Because Of Cost checkup1: Length Of Time Since Last Routine Checkup

Main Survey - Section 4 - Inadequate Sleep

sleptim1: How Much Time Do You Sleep

Main Survey - Section 5 - Hypertension Awareness

bphigh4: Ever Told Blood Pressure High bpmeds: Currently Taking Blood Pressure Medication

Main Survey - Section 6 - Cholesterol Awareness

bloodcho: Ever Had Blood Cholesterol Checked cholchk: How Long Since Cholesterol Checked toldhi2: Ever Told Blood Cholesterol High

Main Survey - Section 7 - Chronic Health Conditions

cvdinfr4: Ever Diagnosed With Heart Attack cvdcrhd4: Ever Diagnosed With Angina Or Coronary Heart Disease cvdstrk3: Ever Diagnosed With A Stroke asthma3: Ever Told Had Asthma asthnow: Still Have Asthma chcscncr: (Ever Told) You Had Skin Cancer? chcocncr: (Ever Told) You Had Any Other Types Of Cancer? chccopd1: (Ever Told) You Have (Copd) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Emphysema Or havarth3: Told Have Arthritis addepev2: Ever Told You Had A Depressive Disorder chckidny: (Ever Told) You Have Kidney Disease? diabete3: (Ever Told) You Have Diabetes

Main Survey - Section 8 - Demographics

veteran3: Are You A Veteran marital: Marital Status children: Number Of Children In Household educa: Education Level employ1: Employment Status income2: Income Level weight2: Reported Weight In Pounds height3: Reported Height In Feet And Inches numhhol2: Household Telephones numphon2: Residential Phones cpdemo1: Do You Have A Cell Phone For Personal Use? cpdemo4: What Percent Of All Calls Are Received On Your Cell Phone? internet: Internet Use In The Past 30 Days? renthom1: Own Or Rent Home sex: Respondents Sex pregnant: Pregnancy Status qlactlm2: Activity Limitation Due To Health Problems useequip: Health Problems Requiring Special Equipment blind: Blind Or Difficulty Seeing decide: Difficulty Concentrating Or Remembering diffwalk: Difficulty Walking Or Climbing Stairs diffdres: Difficulty Dressing Or Bathing diffalon: Difficulty Doing Errands Alone

Main Survey - Section 9 - Tobacco Use

smoke100: Smoked At Least 100 Cigarettes smokday2: Frequency Of Days Now Smoking stopsmk2: Stopped Smoking In Past 12 Months lastsmk2: Interval Since Last Smoked usenow3: Use Of Smokeless Tobacco Products

Main Survey - Section 10 - Alcohol Consumption

alcday5: Days In Past 30 Had Alcoholic Beverage avedrnk2: Avg Alcoholic Drinks Per Day In Past 30 drnk3ge5: Binge Drinking maxdrnks: Most Drinks On Single Occasion Past 30 Days

Main Survey - Section 11 - Fruits and Vegetables

fruitju1: How Many Times Did You Drink 100 Percent Pure Fruit Juices? fruit1: How Many Times Did You Eat Fruit? fvbeans: How Many Times Did You Eat Beans Or Lentils? fvgreen: How Many Times Did You Eat Dark Green Vegetables? fvorang: How Many Times Did You Eat Orange-Colored Vegetables? vegetab1: How Many Times Did You Eat Other Vegetables?

Main Survey - Section 12 - Exercise (Physical Activity)

exerany2: Exercise In Past 30 Days exract11: Type Of Physical Activity exeroft1: How Many Times Walking, Running, Jogging, Or Swimming exerhmm1: Minutes Or Hours Walking, Running, Jogging, Or Swimming exract21: Other Type Of Physical Activity Giving Most Exercise During Past Month exeroft2: How Many Times Walking, Running, Jogging, Or Swimming exerhmm2: Minutes Or Hours Walking, Running, Jogging, Or Swimming strength: How Many Times Did You Do Physical Activities Or Exercises To Strengthen Your Mu

Main Survey - Section 13 - Arthritis Burden

lmtjoin3: Limited Because Of Joint Symptoms arthdis2: Does Arthritis Affect Whether You Work arthsocl: Social Activities Limited Because Of Joint Symptoms joinpain: How Bad Was Joint Pain

Main Survey - Section 14 - Seatbelt Use

seatbelt: How Often Use Seatbelts In Car?

Main Survey - Section 15 - Immunization

flushot6: Adult Flu Shot/Spray Past 12 Mos flshtmy2: When Received Most Recent Seasonal Flu Shot/Spray tetanus: Received Tetanus Shot Since 2005? pneuvac3: Pneumonia Shot Ever

Main Survey - Section 16 - HIV/AIDS

hivtst6: Ever Tested HIV hivtstd3: Month And Year Of Last HIV Test whrtst10: Location Of Last HIV Test

Optional Module 1 - Pre-Diabetes

pdiabtst: Had A Test For High Blood Sugar In Past Three Years prediab1: Ever Been Told You Have Pre-Diabetes Or Borderline Diabetes

Optional Module 2 - Diabetes

diabage2: Age When Told Diabetic insulin: Now Taking Insulin bldsugar: How Often Check Blood For Glucose feetchk2: How Often Check Feet For Sores Or Irritations doctdiab: Times Seen Health Professional For Diabetes chkhemo3: Times Checked For Glycosylated Hemoglobin feetchk: Times Feet Check For Sores/Irritations eyeexam: Last Eye Exam Where Pupils Were Dilated diabeye: Ever Told Diabetes Has Affected Eyes diabedu: Ever Taken Class In Managing Diabetes

Optional Module 3 - Healthy Days (Symptoms)

painact2: How Many Days Hard To Do Usual Activities In Past 30 Days qlmentl2: How Many Days Depressed In Past 30 Days qlstres2: How Many Days Felt Anxious In Past 30 Days qlhlth2: How Many Days Full Of Energy In Past 30 Days

Optional Module 4 - Health Care Access

medicare: Do You Have Medicare? hlthcvrg: Health Insurance Coverage delaymed: Delayed Getting Medical Care dlyother: Delayed Getting Medical Care Other Response nocov121: Without Health Care Coverage Past 12 Months lstcovrg: Time Since Last Had Health Care Coverage drvisits: Doctor Visits Past 12 Months medscost: Could Not Get Medicine Due To Cost carercvd: Satisfied With Care Received medbills: Currently Have Medical Bills

Optional Module 5 - Sugar Drinks

ssbsugar: How Often Do You Drink Regular Soda Or Pop? ssbfrut2: How Often Did You Drink Sugar-Sweetened Drinks?

Optional Module 6 - Sodium or Salt-Related Behavior

wtchsalt: Watching Sodium Or Salt Intake longwtch: How Long Watching Salt/Sodium Intake dradvise: Doctor Advised Reduced Sodium/Salt Intake

Optional Module 7 - Adult Asthma History

asthmage: Age At Asthma Diagnosis asattack: Asthma During Past 12 Months aservist: Emergency Asthma Care During Past 12 Months asdrvist: Urgent Asthma Treatment During Past 12 Months asrchkup: Routine Asthma Care During Past 12 Months asactlim: Activities Limited Due To Asthma During Past 12 Months asymptom: Asthma Symptoms During Past 30 Days asnoslep: Sleep Difficulty Due To Asthma During Past 30 Days asthmed3: Days Used Prescribed Preventative Asthma Med In Past 30 Days asinhalr: Times Used Asthma Inhaler During An Attack In Past 30 Days

Optional Module 8 - Cardiovascular Health

harehab1: Outpatient Rehab After Heart Attack Hosp Stay strehab1: Outpatient Rehab After Hosp Stay For Stroke cvdasprn: Take Aspirin Daily Or Every Other Day aspunsaf: Health Makes Taking Aspirin Unsafe rlivpain: Take Aspirin To Relieve Pain rduchart: Take Aspirin To Reduce Chance Of Heart Attack rducstrk: Take Aspirin To Reduce Chance Of Stroke

Optional Module 9 - Arthritis Management

arttoday: What Can You Do Because Of Arthritis Or Joint Symptoms arthwgt: Dr. Suggest Lose Weight For Arthritis Or Joint Symptoms arthexer: Dr. Suggest Use Of Physical Activity Or Exercise For Arthritis Or Joint Symptoms arthedu: Ever Taken Class In Managing Arthritis Or Joint Symptoms

Optional Module 10 - Influenza

imfvplac: Where Did You Get Your Last Flu Shot/Vaccine?

Optional Module 11 - Adult Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

hpvadvc2: Ever Had The HPV Vaccination? hpvadsht: Number Of HPV Shots Received

Optional Module 12 - Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

hadmam: Have You Ever Had A Mammogram howlong: How Long Since Last Mammogram profexam: Ever Had Breast Physical Exam By Doctor lengexam: How Long Since Last Breast Physical Exam hadpap2: Ever Had A Pap Test lastpap2: How Long Since Last Pap Test hadhyst2: Had Hysterectomy

Optional Module 13 - Colorectal Cancer Screening

bldstool: Ever Had Blood Stool Test Using Home Kit lstblds3: Time Since Last Blood Stool Test hadsigm3: Ever Had Sigmoidoscopy/Colonoscopy hadsgco1: Was Last Test A Sigmoidoscopy Or Colonoscopy lastsig3: Time Since Last Sigmoidoscopy/Colonoscopy

Optional Module 14 - Prostate Cancer Screening

pcpsaad2: Has A Health Professional Ever Talked With You About The Advantages Of The PSA Test pcpsadi1: Has A Health Professional Ever Talked With You About The Disadvantages Of The PSA Test pcpsare1: Has A Doctor Ever Recommended That You Have A PSA Test? psatest1: Ever Had PSA Test psatime: Time Since Last PSA Test pcpsars1: What Was The Main Reason You Had This PSA Test?

Optional Module 15 - Prostate Cancer Screening Decision Making Module

pcpsade1: Why Was PSA Test Done? pcdmdecn: Who Made The Decision With You To Have PSA Test?

Optional Module 16 - Reactions to Race

rrclass2: How Do Other People Usually Classify You In This Country? rrcognt2: How Often Do You Think About Your Race? rratwrk2: How Do You Feel You Were Treated At Work Compared To People Of Other Races In Pa rrhcare3: When Seeking Health Care Past 12 Months, Was Experience Worse, Same, Better Than rrphysm2: Times Past 30 Days Felt Physical Symptoms Because Of Treatment Due To Your Race rremtsm2: Times Past 30 Days Felt Emotionally Upset Because Of Treatment Due To Your Race

Optional Module 17 - Mental Illness and Stigma

misnervs: How Often Feel Nervous Past 30 Days mishopls: How Often Feel Hopeless Past 30 Days misrstls: How Often Feel Restless Past 30 Days misdeprd: How Often Feel Depressed Past 30 Days miseffrt: How Often Feel Everything Was An Effort Past 30 Days miswtles: How Often Feel Worthless Past 30 Days misnowrk: Emotional Problem Kept You From Doing Work Past 30 Days mistmnt: Receiving Medicine Or Treatment From Health Pro For Emotional Problem mistrhlp: Mental Health Treatment Can Help People Lead Normal Life misphlpf: People Are Generally Caring Toward People With Mental Illness

Optional Module 19 - Social Context

scntmony: Times Past 12 Months Worried/Stressed About Having Enough Money To Pay Your Rent scntmeal: Times Past 12 Months Worried/Stressed About Having Enough Money To Buy Nutritiou scntpaid: How Are You Generally Paid For The Work You Do scntwrk1: How Many Hours Per Week Do You Work scntlpad: How Were You Generally Paid For The Work You Did scntlwk1: How Many Hours Per Week Did You Work scntvot1: Did You Vote In The Last Presidential Election?

Optional Module 20 - Random Child Selection

rcsgendr: Gender Of Child rcsrltn2: Relationship To Child

Optional Module 21 - Childhood Asthma Prevalence

casthdx2: Hlth Pro Ever Said Child Has Asthma casthno2: Child Still Have Asthma?

Optional Module 22 - Emotional Support and Life Satisfaction

emtsuprt: How Often Get Emotional Support Needed lsatisfy: Satisfaction With Life

Cell Phone Introduction

ctelnum1: Correct Phone Number? cellfon2: Is This A Cellular Telephone? cadult: Are You 18 Years Of Age Or Older? pvtresd2: Do You Live In A Private Residence? cclghous: Do You Live In College Housing? cstate: Are You A Resident Of [State]? landline: Do You Also Have A Landline Telephone? pctcell: What Percent Of Your Calls Are Received On Your Cell Phone?

Questionnaire Version

qstver: Questionnaire Version Identifier

Questionnaire Language

qstlang: Language Identifier

Weighting Variables

mscode: Metropolitan Status Code _ststr: Sample Design Stratification Variable _strwt: Stratum Weight _rawrake: Raw Weighting Factor Used In Raking _wt2rake: Design Weight Used In Raking _imprace: Imputed Race/Ethnicity Value _impnph: Imputed Number Of Phones _impeduc: Imputed Education Level _impmrtl: Imputed Marital Status _imphome: Imputed Rent Or Own Home Status

Child Demographic Variables

_chispnc: Child Hispanic, Latino/A, Or Spanish Origin Calculated Variable _crace1: Child Non-Hispanic Race Including Multiracial _impcage: Imputed Child Age _impcrac: Imputed Child Race/Ethnicity _impcsex: Imputed Child Gender _cllcpwt: Final Child Weight: Land-Line And Cell-Phone Data

Weighting Variables (2)

_dualuse: Dual Phone Use Categories _dualcor: Dual Phone Use Correction Factor _llcpwt2: Truncated Design Weight Used In Adult Combined Land Line And Cell Phone Raking _llcpwt: Final Weight: Land-Line And Cell-Phone Data

Calculated Variables

_rfhlth: Adults With Good Or Better Health _hcvu651: Respondents Aged 18-64 With Health Care Coverage _rfhype5: High Blood Pressure Calculated Variable _cholchk: Cholesterol Checked Calculated Variable _rfchol: High Cholesterol Calculated Variable _ltasth1: Lifetime Asthma Calculated Variable _casthm1: Current Asthma Calculated Variable _asthms1: Computed Asthma Status _drdxar1: Respondents Diagnosed With Arthritis _prace1: Computed Preferred Race _mrace1: Calculated Non-Hispanic Race Including Multiracial _hispanc: Hispanic, Latino/A, Or Spanish Origin Calculated Variable _race: Computed Race-Ethnicity Grouping _raceg21: Computed Non-Hispanic Whites/All Others Race Categories Race/Ethnic Group Codes _racegr3: Computed Five Level Race/Ethnicity Category. _race_g1: Computed Race Groups Used For Internet Prevalence Tables _ageg5yr: Reported Age In Five-Year Age Categories Calculated Variable _age65yr: Reported Age In Two Age Groups Calculated Variable _age_g: Imputed Age In Six Groups htin4: Computed Height In Inches htm4: Computed Height In Meters wtkg3: Computed Weight In Kilograms _bmi5: Computed Body Mass Index _bmi5cat: Computed Body Mass Index Categories _rfbmi5: Overweight Or Obese Calculated Variable _chldcnt: Computed Number Of Children In Household educag: Computed Level Of Education Completed Categories incomg: Computed Income Categories smoker3: Computed Smoking Status rfsmok3: Current Smoking Calculated Variable drnkany5: Drink Any Alcoholic Beverages In Past 30 Days drocdy3: Computed Drink-Occasions-Per-Day rfbing5: Binge Drinking Calculated Variable drnkdy4: Computed Number Of Drinks Of Alcohol Beverages Per Day drnkmo4: Computed Total Number Drinks A Month rfdrhv4: Heavy Alcohol Consumption Calculated Variable rfdrmn4: Adult Men Heavy Alcohol Consumption Calculated Variable rfdrwm4: Adult Women Heavy Alcohol Consumption Calculated Variable ftjuda1: Computed Fruit Juice Intake In Times Per Day frutda1: Computed Fruit Intake In Times Per Day beanday: Computed Bean Intake In Times Per Day grenday: Computed Dark Green Vegetable Intake In Times Per Day orngday: Computed Orange-Colored Vegetable Intake In Times Per Day vegeda1: Computed Vegetable Intake In Times Per Day misfrtn: The Number Of Missing Fruit Responses misvegn: The Number Of Missing Vegetable Responses frtresp: Missing Any Fruit Responses vegresp: Missing Any Vegetable Responses frutsum: Total Fruits Consumed Per Day vegesum: Total Vegetables Consumed Per Day frtlt1: Consume Fruit 1 Or More Times Per Day veglt1: Consume Vegetables 1 Or More Times Per Day frt16: Reported Consuming Fruit >16/Day veg23: Reported Consuming Vegetables >23/Day fruitex: Fruit Exclusion From Analyses vegetex: Vegetable Exclusion From Analyses totinda: Leisure Time Physical Activity Calculated Variable metvl11: Activity Met Value For First Activity metvl21: Activity Met Value For Second Activity maxvo2: Estimated Age-Gender Specific Maximum Oxygen Consumption fc60: Estimated Functional Capacity actin11: Estimated Activity Intensity For First Activity actin21: Estimated Activity Intensity For Second Activity padur1: Minutes Of First Activity padur2: Minutes Of Second Activity pafreq1: Physical Activity Frequency Per Week For First Activity pafreq2: Physical Activity Frequency Per Week For Second Activity minac11: Minutes Of Physical Activity Per Week For First Activity minac21: Minutes Of Physical Activity Per Week For Second Activity strfreq: Strength Activity Frequency Per Week pamiss1: Missing Physical Activity Data pamin11: Minutes Of Physical Activity Per Week For First Activity pamin21: Minutes Of Physical Activity Per Week For Second Activity pa1min: Minutes Of Total Physical Activity Per Week pavig11: Minutes Of Vigorous Physical Activity Per Week For First Activity pavig21: Minutes Of Vigorousphysical Activity Per Week For Second Activity pa1vigm: Minutes Of Total Vigorous Physical Activity Per Week _pacat1: Physical Activity Categories _paindx1: Physical Activity Index _pa150r2: 150 Minute Physical Activity Calculated Variable _pa300r2: 300 Minute Physical Activity Calculated Variable _pa30021: 300 Minute Physical Activity 2-Level Calculated Variable _pastrng: Muscle Strengthening Recommendation _parec1: Aerobic And Strengthening Guideline _pastae1: Aerobic And Strengthening (2-Level) _lmtact1: Limited Usual Activities _lmtwrk1: Limited Work Activities _lmtscl1: Limited Social Activities _rfseat2: Always Or Nearly Always Wear Seat Belts _rfseat3: Always Wear Seat Belts _flshot6: Flu Shot Calculated Variable _pneumo2: Pneumonia Vaccination Calculated Variable _aidtst3: Ever Been Tested For HIV Calculated Variable _age80: Imputed Age Value Collapsed Above 80

• For further information, please visit the codebook: CODEBOOK

References

BRFSS web site: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/ BRFSS Questionnaire (Mandatory and Optional Modules): http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/questionnaires/pdf-ques/2013%20BRFSS_English.pdf BRFSS Codebook: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/2013/pdf/CODEBOOK13_LLCP.pdf BRFSS Guide to Calculated Variables: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/2013/pdf/2013_Calculated_Variables_Version15.pdf BRFSS Guide to Optional Modules Used, by State: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/BRFSSModules/ModByState.asp?Yr=2013