Jane F. Gentleman, PhD

Hanyu Ni, PhD

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNational Center for Health Statistics

Early Release of Early Release of Selected Estimates from theSelected Estimates from the

National Health Interview National Health Interview SurveySurvey

BackgroundBackground

•National Health Interview Survey (NHIS): A large, complex national survey

•1997 NHIS redesign

•Timeliness of annual MICRODATA releases is good and getting even better

•Early Release program (ER) now releases updated ESTIMATES every 3 months

BackgroundBackground

•Expert meeting: Identified key measures

•Determined how to expedite editing and weighting

•Chose to release on Internet only

•First release: April 2001

NHIS Early Release (ER) NHIS Early Release (ER) ProgramProgram

Objectives

•Provide ready and timely access to the most recent NHIS key estimates

•Monitor health and health care

•Measure progress toward national public health objectives

NHIS ERNHIS ER FeaturesFeatures

•Web-based only

•Uses partial-year data

•Released…

…in March, June, September, and December

…6 months after the end of each quarter of data

collection

NHIS ERNHIS ER Currently Covers 15 Currently Covers 15

MeasuresMeasures

•Health insurance coverage

•Usual place to go for medical care

•Obtaining needed care

•Flu vaccination

•Pneumococcal vaccination

•Obesity

•Physical activities

NHIS ERNHIS ERCurrently Covers 15 Measures, Cont.Currently Covers 15 Measures, Cont.

•Current smoking

•Alcohol consumption

•HIV testing

•General health status

•Personal care need

•Serious psychological distress

•Diagnosed diabetes

•Asthma episodes

How Are The Results How Are The Results Presented in The NHIS Presented in The NHIS

ER?ER?

How Are The Results How Are The Results Presented in The NHIS Presented in The NHIS

ER?ER?

NHIS ERNHIS ERPresentationPresentation

NHIS ERNHIS ERPresentationPresentation

Trends •1997-latest available quarter

Current estimates•By age, sex, and race/ethnicity

Percent and 95% CI

Graphs, tables, and highlights

Data tables for figures

An Example:An Example:

Prevalence ofPrevalence of Current Current SmokingSmoking

An Example:An Example:

Prevalence ofPrevalence of Current Current SmokingSmoking

Prevalence of Current SmokingPrevalence of Current SmokingAmong AdultsAmong Adults

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2003

Percent 95% confidence interval

0

15

20

25

30

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003(Jan.-June)

Prevalence of Current SmokingPrevalence of Current Smoking Among Adults by Age and SexAmong Adults by Age and Sex

Percent

18-44 45-64 65 and over

Age group (years)

Male FemaleTotal95% confidence interval

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2003

Prevalence of Current SmokingPrevalence of Current Smoking Among Adults by Race/EthnicityAmong Adults by Race/Ethnicity

Percent

Hispanic White BlackNot Hispanic

95% confidence interval

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

NOTE: The percents are age- and sex-adjusted.SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, Jan.-June, 2003

Flu VaccinationFlu VaccinationFlu VaccinationFlu Vaccination

•Target groups

•Optimal vaccination time

•NHIS flu question: seasonality

•Delay in the vaccine availability • 2000-01 season• 2001-02 season

65 years and over

50-64 years

18-49 years

Year (quarter)1997 1998 20001999 2001 200

22003

0

20

40

60

80

Flu Vaccination by Age Flu Vaccination by Age GroupGroup

and Quarterand Quarter

Flu Vaccination by Age Flu Vaccination by Age GroupGroup

and Quarterand Quarter

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2003

Percent

ObesityObesityObesityObesity

•Based on self-reported weight and height

•Underestimated but consistent over time

Percent 95% confidence interval

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003(Jan.-June)

Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults

Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2003

Percent

Hispanic White BlackNot Hispanic

Male Female95% confidence interval

0

10

20

30

40

50

NOTE: The percents are age-adjusted.SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, Jan.-June, 2003

Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults

by Race/Ethnicity

Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults

by Race/Ethnicity

Health Insurance CoverageHealth Insurance CoverageHealth Insurance CoverageHealth Insurance Coverage

•One of the 15 measures in the main ER report

•A special report on health insurance coverage: more details

Lack of Insurance Coverage* Lack of Insurance Coverage* Three MeasuresThree Measures

Lack of Insurance Coverage* Lack of Insurance Coverage* Three MeasuresThree Measures

• At the time of interview

• For at least part of the past year

• For more than one year

*Includes those having only IHS or single service plans

Type of CoverageType of CoverageType of CoverageType of Coverage

Private

•Employer-based or directly purchased

Public

• Medicaid, Medicare

• SCHIP

• Other government programs

• Military health plans

Subgroup Estimates Subgroup Estimates Subgroup Estimates Subgroup Estimates

Trend

• 1997-latest available quarter

• By age and poverty status*

Current estimates

• By age, sex, and race/ethnicity

• By region, education, employment status, and marital status*

*In the special report

0

5

10

15

20

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003(Jan.-June)

95% confidence interval

Percent

Uninsured at the Time of Interview for Persons of All Ages

Uninsured at the Time of Interview for Persons of All Ages

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2003

Uninsured Among ChildrenUnder age 18

Uninsured Among ChildrenUnder age 18

0

5

10

15

20Percent

1997

1999

2001

2003

At the time of interview

At least part of past year

For more than a year

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2003

1998

2000

2002

0

10

20

30

40

50

60Percent

1997

1999

2001

2003

Uninsured

Private

Public

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2003

1998

2000

2002

Type of Coverage Among Near Poor Children Under Age 18

Type of Coverage Among Near Poor Children Under Age 18

Jan.-June

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, Jan.-June, 2003

Uninsured Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years

Uninsured Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years

0

10

20

30

40

50

60Percent

Employed Unemployed

Not in workforce

At interviewPast year

>1 year

Estimates of Uninsured: Estimates of Uninsured: Three National SurveysThree National Surveys

Estimates of Uninsured: Estimates of Uninsured: Three National SurveysThree National Surveys

NHIS: Health status and health care utilization

CPS: Employment and State-specific

data

MEPS: Health care expenditure and utilization

Estimates of Uninsured: Estimates of Uninsured: Three National Surveys -Cont. Three National Surveys -Cont.

Estimates of Uninsured: Estimates of Uninsured: Three National Surveys -Cont. Three National Surveys -Cont.

NHIS Jan.-June 2003Dec. 2003

CPS Jan.-Dec. 2002Sept. 2003

MEPS Jan.-June 2002 Nov. 2003

Data sourceMost recent estimates

Releasedate

URL: www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm

NCHS Web page: Information Showcase

Where to Find the NHIS ER Where to Find the NHIS ER Where to Find the NHIS ER Where to Find the NHIS ER