NCHS: A Blog of the National Center for Health Statistics
QuickStats: Percentage of Physician Office Visits for Which Preventive Care Was the Major Reason for Visit, by Selected Specialties
From 2001–2002 to 2009–2010, the percentage of physician office visits for which preventive care was the major reason for visit increased for the specialties of general/family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. During 2009–2010, approximately two thirds of visits to obstetricians and gynecologists were for preventive care, including prenatal and postnatal care, and Read More >
Posted on byEarly Release of Selected Estimates Based on Data From the 2013 National Health Interview Survey
A new report from NCHS updates estimates for 15 selected health measures based on data from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and presents estimates from 1997 through 2012 for comparison. The 15 Early Release measures are being published prior to final data editing and final weighting to provide access to the most recent information Read More >
Posted on byRecent Declines in Induction of Labor by Gestational Age
During the 1980s, 1990s, and through 2006, the length of pregnancies in the United States shortened. From 1981 through 2006, the proportion of infants born at less than 39 completed weeks of gestation increased nearly 60%, while births at 39 weeks or more declined more than 20%. This shift in the gestational age distribution has Read More >
Posted on byMarriage, Cohabitation, and Men’s Use of Preventive Health Care Services
In honor of National Men’s Health Week and Father’s Day, NCHS has released a new report that looks at preventive health care service use among groups of men aged 18-64: married men, cohabitating men and other not-married men. The consistency of observed differences by age and health insurance coverage status were also investigated. Previous research has demonstrated that married Read More >
Posted on bySTATE VITALS: KENTUCKY
Kentucky ranks 5th in the United States in cesarean deliveries and 8th in teen births. The blue grass state also has mortality rates that are higher than the U.S. rates for the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. However, Kentucky has a lower homicide rate than the U.S. rate. Read More >
Posted on byBirths: Preliminary Data for 2013
NCHS has released a new report that presents preliminary data for 2013 on births in the United States. U.S. data on births are shown by age, live-birth order, race, and Hispanic origin of mother. Data on marital status, cesarean delivery, preterm births, and low birthweight are also presented. Key Findings from the Report: The 2013 preliminary number Read More >
Posted on byCardiorespiratory Fitness Levels Among U.S. Youth Aged 12–15 Years: United States, 1999–2004 and 2012
Physical fitness has been defined as “a set of attributes that people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity.” Cardiorespiratory fitness is one component of physical fitness and is defined as the “ability of the circulatory and respiratory systems to supply fuel during sustained physical activity and to eliminate fatigue Read More >
Posted on byOlder Women, First Births
A recent NCHS Data Brief, drawing on data collected through the National Vital Statistics System, has received nationwide media attention for its findings on first-time births to older mothers. Data Brief No. 152, “First Births to Older Women Continue to Rise,” found significant increases over the past four decades in the average age of women Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Infants Born Late Preterm by Mother’s State of Residence
In 2012, 8.1% of births in the United States were late preterm births. The percentage of births that were late preterm varied by state and ranged from 6.2% in Vermont to 12.0% in Mississippi. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6320a6.htm?s_cid=mm6320a6_e Read More >
Posted on byNews Brief: Older Women, First Births
A recent NCHS Data Brief, drawing on data collected through the National Vital Statistics System, has received nationwide media attention for its findings on first-time births to older mothers. Data Brief No. 152, “First Births to Older Women Continue to Rise,” found significant increases over the past four decades in the average age of women Read More >
Posted on byCatching Up With: ASA President Dr. Nathaniel Schenker
In 2013, Inside NCHS interviewed Dr. Nathaniel Schenker, director of the Office of Research and Methodology, about his serving as president-elect of the American Statistical Association (ASA). In the article, Dr. Schenker discussed his presidential agenda. His three main initiatives included having ASA revise its curricula guidelines for undergraduate majors and minors in statistics, developing Read More >
Posted on byTrends in Electronic Health Record System Use Among Office-based Physicians: United States, 2007–2012
NCHS has a new report that presents trends in the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) by office-based physicians during 2007–2012. Rates of adoption are compared by selected physician and practice characteristics. Key Findings from the Report: In 2012, 71.8% of office-based physicians reported using any type of EHR system, up from 34.8% in 2007. Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Median Emergency Department Wait and Treatment Times by Triage Level — National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, United States, 2010–2011
The median wait time to be treated in the Emergency Department was about 30 minutes, and the median treatment time was slightly more than 90 minutes in 2010–2011. At visits in which patients were triaged, the shortest median wait time was 12 minutes for patients who had an immediate need to be seen. Treatment times were Read More >
Posted on bySTATE VITALS: Kansas
The state of Kansas scores lower than the nation overall in cesarean deliveries, preterm births, and low birthweight. The state also has a lower mortality rate in homicides and drug poisoning deaths. However, among the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, Kansas has mortality rates that are higher than the U.S. rates Read More >
Posted on byHealth, United States, 2013 explores the Nation’s health status; special feature on use of prescription drugs
The National Center for Health Statistics announces the release of Health, United States, 2013. Health, United States is the annual report on the health status of the Nation, submitted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the President and Congress. The 2013 report includes a rich compilation of health data through 2012 from Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged 18–64 Years Who Have Seen a Dentist Within the Past Year
In 2012, the percentage of adults with a dental visit within the past year increased with increasing income. Approximately 44% of adults with family income less than 200% of the poverty threshold had a dental visit in the past year, increasing to 60% of those with family income from 200% to 400% and 79% for Read More >
Posted on byFirst Births to Older Women Continue to Rise
The average age of women at first birth has risen over the past 4 decades. This increase is in part a reflection of the shift in first births to women 35 years and older. Delayed childbearing affects the size, composition, and future growth of the population in the United States. Increased health risks to older Read More >
Posted on byState Variability in Supply of Office-based Primary Care Providers: United States, 2012
Primary care providers include primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Primary care physicians are those in family and general practice, internal medicine, geriatrics, and pediatrics. Physician assistants are state-licensed health professionals practicing medicine under a physician’s supervision. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced clinical training. The ability to obtain primary care depends Read More >
Posted on byAsthma Awareness Month
May is Asthma Awareness Month and it’s important to recognize one of the most common lifelong chronic diseases. 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 Read More >
Posted on byAdverse Family Experiences Among Children in Nonparental Care, 2011–2012
A new NCHS report presents estimates of the proportion of children who have experienced selected adverse family events by the number of biological parents in the household, with a focus on comparisons among subgroups of children in nonparental care defined by caregiver type. Key Findings from the Report: Children in nonparental care were 2.7 times Read More >
Posted on byInjury-related Emergency Department Visits by Children and Adolescents: United States, 2009–2010
Injury is the leading cause of death and a major source of morbidity among children and adolescents in the United States. The emergency department (ED) plays an important role in the care of injuries, and these visits often represent the initial contact with a provider for the injury. A new report from NCHS examines nationally Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Children Aged 6–17 Years Prescribed Medication During the Preceding 6 Months for Emotional or Behavioral Difficulties
During 2011–2012, among children aged 6–17 years, 7.5% overall had been prescribed medication for emotional or behavioral difficulties during the preceding 6 months. By U.S. Census region, the percentages were 9.3% in the South, 8.0% in the Midwest, 6.3% in the Northeast, and 5.0% in the West. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6317a9.htm?s_cid=mm6317a9_e Read More >
Posted on bySTATE VITALS: Illinois
In the United States, Illinois ranks 13th in deaths from kidney disease. The state also has a higher homicide and infant mortality rate than the rest of the country. However, among the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S., Illinois has mortality rates that are lower than the U.S. rate for the following causes: chronic Read More >
Posted on byUse of Medication Prescribed for Emotional or Behavioral Difficulties Among Children Aged 6–17 Years in the United States, 2011–2012
Mental health problems are common chronic conditions in children. Medication is often prescribed to treat the symptoms of these conditions. Few population-based studies have examined the use of prescription medication to treat mental health problems among younger as well as older school-aged children. A new NCHS report describes the sociodemographic characteristics of children aged 6–17 years Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Currently Employed Adults Who Were Current Smokers by Selected Industries
During 2008–2012, 29.9% of adults 18 years or older currently employed in construction and 28.2% of those currently employed in mining were current smokers. Adults currently employed in construction were more likely than adults currently employed in manufacturing (23.3%), transportation/warehousing/utilities (23.2%), trade (22.0%), agriculture/forestry/fishing (18.6%), services (16.9%), or health care/social assistance (16.0%) to be current smokers. Read More >
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