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:

 

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:

HealthData.gov

 

Overview
Data hub for the Department of Health and Human Services. 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
CSV, Excel xls files

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Main Variables:

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)

Overview
National estimates of health care use and spending, insurance, accessibility of care. Link/Data

Components

  • Household
  • Insurance
  • Medical Provider component

Population
US Families and individuals, Employers, Medical Providers (physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, etc.)

Cost
$0

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

Years Available
1996-2017

Linked Datasets
No

Study Type
Survey

File Types
ASCII, SAS transport file
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Main Variables:

Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS)

Overview
National study designed to gather data on health status for Medicare Advantage program.Link

Population
US population, 65+ years old

Cost
Varies. Based on level of access one needs. Limited Data Sets and Research Identifiable Files are available for request through ResDac (Research Data Assistant Center). $200 per cohort for Limited Data Sets.

Clearance?
Yes. Request to ResDAC, Data Use Agreement, funding information, study abstract. For Limited Data Sets and Research Identifiable Files, detailed instructions are available though ResDac (Research Data Assistant Center).

Years Available
1998-2013

Linked Datasets
Yes. SEER – MHOS linked data set

Study Type
Survey

File Types
ASCII, SAS
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Main Variables:

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

NHIS Web Banner

Overview
National survey  designed to collect information on the health of United States. Link

Components

  • Core
  • Household
  • Family
  • Sample Adult
  • Sample Child
  • NHIS-D, National Health Interview Survey on Disability.

Population
US population

Cost
$0

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

Years Available
1963-2017

Linked Datasets

NHIS Linked Mortality Data:1986-2006, NHIS-EPAAnnualAir: 1985-2005 (Not available for public use), NHIS-SSA: 1994-2005, NHIS- Medicaid: 1994-2005, NHIS-Medicare: 1994-1998, NHIS Geocodes.

Study Type
Survey

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

National Latino & Asian American Study (NLAAS)

NLAASOverview
A national study that aims to provide information on the similarities and differences in mental illness. Link/Data

Population
US population. Latinos and Asian Americans. 18+ years old.

Cost
$0

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

Years Available
2002-2003

Study Types
Survey

Data Type
SAS, SPSS, Stata, ASCII, TSV

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Main Variables:

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)

Overview
Provides national and state-level estimates on the use of tobacco products, alcohol, illicit drugs (including non-medical use of prescription drugs) and mental health in the United States. Link/Data

Population
US population, 12+ years old

Cost
$0

Clearance?
Yes. One has to log into SAMHSA and “sign” an online agreement.

Years Available
1979-2011

Linked Datasets
No.

Study Type
Survey

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