Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

BRFSS logo
Overview
System of health surveys conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Includes health risk behavior, preventive health, health care access, chronic disease, and injury. Link/Data

Components
BRFSS, SMART: City and County Data

Population
US population, 18 yr+ years old

Cost
$0

Clearance?
No. There isn’t an additional clearance step.

Years Available
1984-2017

Linked Datasets
Asthma Call-back Survey, GIS Data

Study Types
Survey

Data Type
ASCII, SAS

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Main Variables:

 

BioLINCC

Overview
BioLINCC (Biologic Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center). Sponsored by the The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to enhance and facilitate further research in cardiovascular, pulmonary and hematologic conditions. Link

Components
Data Warehouse

Population
US and its territories

Cost
$0

Clearance?
Yes. IRB approval, data use agreement, investigator information, description.

Study Type
Varies by study

File Types
ASCII, SAS, SPSS, Stata

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Main Variables:

CDC Wonder

Overview
CDC WONDER (Wide-Range Online Data for Epidemiological Research) provides access to CDC information resources to researchers and the general public. Link

Components
Data Warehouse

Population
US population

Cost
$0

Clearance?
No. There isn’t an additional clearance step.

Years Available
Varies

 Linked Datasets
No

Study Type
Varies

File Types
ASCII, HTML, TSV

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Main Variables:

The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS)

Overview
The study is designed to investigate the consequences of therapy, genetic associations, disease processes and causation, interventions, and quality of life among childhood cancer survivors. Link/Data

Components

  • Baseline Questionnaire
  • Treatment Data
  • Mortality
  • Second Neoplasm Data

Population
US childhood cancer survivors diagnosed between 1987 and 1999 and their siblings

Cost
$0

Clearance?
No. There isn’t an additional clearance step.

Years Available
1994-2007: The duration of the study. Public use data is dated 2006

Linked Datasets
No

Data Type
pdf
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Main Variables:

County Health Rankings

County Health Rankings

Overview
County rankings are based on a model that includes factors such as environment, socioeconomic factors, access to healthcare, and health behaviors of the county population. Link/Data

Components

  • County Health Rankings
  • Health Factors Maps

Population
US population

Cost
$0

Clearance?
No. There isn’t an additional clearance step.

Years Available
2010-2018

Linked Datasets
No

Study Type
N/A

File Types
Excel xls files
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Main Variables:

Data.gov

Overview
Government data repository. Available to the public: find, download, and use datasets that are generated and held by the federal government. Link

Components
Data Warehouse

Population
Varies

Cost
Varies, but usually no cost

Clearance?
Varies by dataset

Years Available
Varies by dataset

Linked Datasets
Varies

Study Type
Varies by dataset

File Types
Varies by dataset
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Main Variables:

Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)

Overview
Public health surveillance system that monitors drug-related hospital emergency departments and drug-related deaths investigated by medical examiners and coroners. Link/Data

Population
US population

Cost
$0

Clearance?
No, for publicly-available data. Yes, for restricted-use data. You have to register an account with the SAMHDA.

Years Available
2004-2011

Linked Datasets
n/a

Study Type
Surveillance

File Types
ASCII, SAS, SPSS, Stata, TSV
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Main Variables:

Framingham Heart Study

Overview
Long-term cohort study designed with a focus on the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Link/Data

Components

  • Cohort
  • Offspring
  • Gen III

Population
Citizens of Framingham, MA. Men, women,  ages 28+

Cost
$0

Clearance?
Yes. IRB approval, data use agreement, investigator information, description

Years Available
1948-

Linked Datasets
No.

Study Type
Cohort

File Types
ASCII, SAS, SPSS, Stata
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Main Variables:

General Social Survey (GSS)

gss_homeOverview
The GSS is designed to record demographic and attitudinal trends of the United States population. Link /Data

Components

  • GSS Core
  • Special Topic Modules

Population
US Population

Cost
$0

Clearance?
No. There isn’t an additional clearance step.

Years Available
1972-2016

Linked Datasets
Yes. International Social Survey Programme

Study Types
Survey

Data Type
SPSS, SAS, Stata, R, ASCII, TSV
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Main Variables:

Health and Retirement Study (HRS)

Overview
Study designed to explore the changes in labor force participation and the health transitions that Americans undergo toward the end of their work lives and in the years that follow. Link/Data

Population
US population, 50+ years old

Cost
$0

Clearance?
Yes. Register as a user on the HRS website

Years Available
1992-2016

Linked Datasets
National Death Index, Geographic Information, SSA

Study Type
Longitudinal Panel Survey

File Types
.da Files, SAS, SPSS, Stata descriptions
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Main Variables: