NCHS: A Blog of the National Center for Health Statistics
Reasons for Emergency Room Use Among U.S. Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2012
Emergency rooms (ERs) are intended to provide care for acute and life-threatening medical conditions for people of all ages, but use is highest among older adults and young children. In 2012, 18% of children aged 0–17 years visited the ER at least once in the past year. Rising health care costs make it important to Read More >
Posted on byPerception of Weight Status in U.S. Children and Adolescents Aged 8–15 Years, 2005–2012
Childhood obesity is a major public health problem associated with many adverse health outcomes in adulthood. During 2011–2012, nearly 17% of children and adolescents were obese. Weight status misperception occurs when the child’s perception of their weight status differs from their actual weight status based on measured height and weight. Accurate weight status self-perception has Read More >
Posted on byRural Residents Who Are Hospitalized in Rural and Urban Hospitals: United States, 2010
In 2010, 17% of the U.S. population lived in rural (nonmetropolitan) areas. Many rural areas are medically underserved due to physician (especially specialist) shortages. Rural hospitals often are small, with a low volume of services, and have difficulty remaining financially viable under the regular hospital prospective payment system. Special Medicare hospital payment categories have been Read More >
Posted on byFruit and Vegetable Consumption of U.S. Youth, 2009–2010
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), 2010 encourage Americans, including youth, to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. Individuals are encouraged to “eat a variety of vegetables, especially dark-green and red and orange vegetables.” Fruits and vegetables are sources of many under-consumed nutrients and consuming fruits and vegetables is associated with a decreased risk Read More >
Posted on bySexual Orientation and Health Among U.S. Adults: NHIS, 2013
NCHS has provided a new report on national estimates for indicators of health-related behaviors, health status, health care service utilization, and health care access by sexual orientation using data from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). NHIS is an annual multipurpose health survey conducted continuously throughout the year. Analyses were based on data collected in Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Drug-Poisoning Death Rates by State
In 2011, age-adjusted rates for deaths from drug poisoning varied by state, ranging from 7.1 to 36.3 per 100,000 population. In 17 states, the age-adjusted drug-poisoning death rate was significantly higher than the overall U.S. rate of 13.2 deaths per 100,000 population. The five states with the highest poisoning death rates were West Virginia (36.3), Read More >
Posted on byTV Watching and Computer Use in U.S. Youth Aged 12–15, 2012
Excessive screen-time behaviors, such as using a computer and watching TV, for more than 2 hours daily have been linked with elevated blood pressure, elevated serum cholesterol, and being overweight or obese among youth. Additionally, screen-time behavior established in adolescence has been shown to track into adulthood. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-supported Expert Read More >
Posted on byWireless Substitution: Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, July–December 2013
Preliminary results from the July – December 2013 National Health Interview Survey indicate that the number of American homes with only wireless telephones continues to grow. Two in every five American homes (41%) had only wireless telephones (also known as cellular telephones, cell phones, or mobile phones) during the second half of 2013 — an Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: Percentage of Adults with Activity Limitations, by Age Group and Type of Limitation — United States, 2012
In 2012, the percentages of adults with limitations in activities of daily living and limitations in instrumental activities of daily living increased with age. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6325a9.htm?s_cid=mm6325a9_w Read More >
Posted on bySTATE VITALS: LOUISIANA
Louisiana leads the United States in births by cesarean delivery and ranks second in births to unmarried mothers, preterm births and low birthweight. The Bayou State also leads the nation in kidney disease. However, Louisiana has a lower proportion of its population without health insurance than the national average. Read More >
Posted on byPrevalence of Incontinence Among Older Americans
A new report presents national estimates of incontinence prevalence in the United States using data source-specific definitions of incontinence among persons aged 65 and over by sociodemographic characteristics during 2007–2010. This first-time report presents national estimates on incontinence for subpopulations of older persons sampled in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics surveys Read More >
Posted on byQuickStats: 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 >
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