NCHS: A Blog of the National Center for Health Statistics
QuickStats: Infant Mortality Rates by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity of Mother — United States, 2000, 2005, and 2010
The U.S. infant mortality rate plateaued during 2000–2005, then declined from 6.86 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005 to 6.14 in 2010. Declines from 2005 to 2010 were largest for non-Hispanic black women (from 13.63 to 11.46), followed by non-Hispanic white (from 5.76 to 5.18) and Hispanic women (from 5.62 to 5.25). In Read More >
Posted on byHypothermia Deaths
With record-breaking cold weather sending single digit temperatures in most of the country, its important to stay warm. Prolonged exposure to the cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy and can lead to hypothermia. If gone untreated, hypothermia can lead to death. From 1999 to 2011, a total of 16,911 deaths in the United Read More >
Posted on bySTATE VITALS: ALASKA
The state known as “The Last Frontier” has the highest suicide rate and ranks 6th in accidents. Alaska also has mortality rates that are higher than the U.S. for the following causes: cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and influenza/pneumonia. However, Alaska had the lowest rates in the country for low birthweight rate (6% of all births) and cesarean Read More >
Posted on byFact or Fiction: Suicides Increase During the Holiday Season and Winter Months
PREMISE: It is commonly believed that more people are likely to commit suicide during the holidays and winter months as a result of stress, depression, and/or loneliness. Fact or Fiction: FICTION Contrary to popular belief, the number of suicides do not increase during the holiday season or winter months. In fact, after sorting suicides by month for Read More >
Posted on byNational Birth Defects Prevention Month
January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. Major birth defects are conditions present at birth that cause structural changes in one or more parts of the body. They can have a serious, adverse effect on health, development, or functional ability. Birth defects – also known as congenital anomalies – are a leading cause of infant death Read More >
Posted on by1 out of 4 Adolescents Engaged in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which have been adopted by the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that youth participate in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes. This report presents the most recent national data from 2012 on self-reported physical activity among youth aged Read More >
Posted on byQuick Stat of the Week: Percentage of Adults with Hypertension Reporting Treatment and Control of Their Condition,by Race/Ethnicity — 2011–2012
During 2011–2012, 75.6% of adults with hypertension were taking medication to lower their blood pressure, and 51.8% had their blood pressure under control. Non-Hispanic Asian adults with hypertension were less likely to be taking medication (65.2%) than were non-Hispanic black (77.4%) and non-Hispanic white (76.7%) adults with hypertension. No difference was observed in controlled hypertension Read More >
Posted on bySTATE VITALS: ALABAMA
Alabama ranks among the top ten states for rates of preterm births, teen births and low birthweight. Alabama also ranks higher than the entire U.S. in mortality for all ten leading causes of death, which include: heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, accidents, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, kidney disease, influenza/pneumonia and suicide. However, since 2005 Read More >
Posted on byA Whole Lot of Coughing Going On
The old euphemism, “It’s not the cough that will carry you off,” mostly rings true, but the cough is still one of the leading reasons to head to a doctor, according to the 2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) conducted by NCHS. A cough is also one of the top reasons why people visit Read More >
Posted on bySTATE VITALS: WYOMING
Wyoming ranks 41st in the U.S. in births to unmarried mothers (35.5% of all births) and cesarean delivery rates (27% of all birhts). The state’s marriage rate is also higher than the overall U.S. rate (7.8 marriages per 1,000 population vs. 6.8 per 1,000 nationally). However, among the ten leading causes of death in the U.S., Wyoming mortality Read More >
Posted on byFact or Fiction: Is Nevada the Marriage Capital of the U.S.?
Las Vegas has earned – for better or worse – a reputation for quick weddings. The city came to be known as the Marriage Capital of the World as a result of the ease of acquiring a marriage license and the minimal costs involved. Las Vegas comprises a large part of Clark County, where the Read More >
Posted on byInfant Mortality Statistics
A new report presents 2010 period infant mortality statistics from the linked birth/infant death data set (linked file) by maternal and infant characteristics. The linked file differs from the mortality file that is based entirely on death certificate data. Key Findings from the Report: The U.S. infant mortality rate was 6.14 infant deaths per 1,000 Read More >
Posted on byFathers’ Involvement With Their Children
A new NCHS report measures fathers’ involvement with their children. Father involvement is measured by how often a man participated in a set of activities in the last 4 weeks with children who were living with him and with children who were living apart from him. Involvement is measured separately for children aged 0–4 years Read More >
Posted on bySTATE VITALS: VERMONT
Vermont has the lowest preterm birth rate in the country (8.8% of all births) and a significantly lower rate than the U.S. as a whole (11.7%). The state’s teen birth rate is also lower than the overall U.S. rate (16.8% vs. 31.3%). Vermont has the 10th lowest low birthweight rate in the U.S. However, among the ten Read More >
Posted on byHomes with only Wireless Telephones Continues to Grow
Two new reports on wireless telephones show that percentage of adults and children living in households that do not have a landline telephone but have at least one wireless telephone have gone up. The first report shows preliminary results from the January–June 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) on wireless telephones. The report found that two in Read More >
Posted on byFeasibility Files Help Researchers Manage Scope
NCHS’ record linkage program gives researchers a valuable resource, enabling them to take the “long view” and examine the factors that influence disability, chronic disease, health care utilization, morbidity, and mortality. Researchers also have another tool to determine the scope of available research, saving them time and even providing an opportunity to assess data before Read More >
Posted on byCharles Rothwell Named NCHS Director
Charles Rothwell has been appointed Director of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the Nation’s principal health statistics agency and a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mr. Rothwell succeeds Dr. Edward Sondik, who retired as NCHS Director in April, 2013. He becomes the Center’s seventh director since its inception Read More >
Posted on byHealth Insurance Coverage and Adverse Experiences With Physician Availability in the US
Rates of private insurance and public coverage have been increasing. As coverage and utilization increase, a growing concern is the availability of health care providers to meet patient needs. Almost 90% of general physicians accept new patients with private insurance, but less than 75% accept new patients with public coverage (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid), and the Read More >
Posted on byNational Study of Long-Term Care Providers Report
NCHS has released the first in a series of NSLTCP reports today. Long-Term Care Services in the United States: 2013 Overview includes general, descriptive information on the supply, organizational characteristics, staffing, and services offered by providers of long-term care services; and the demographic, health, and functional characteristics of users of these services. The report shows Read More >
Posted on byMeasures of Muscular Strength in U.S. Children and Adolescents
In 2008, the federal government released the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which provide guidance on the types and amounts of physical activities that provide substantial health benefits for Americans of all ages. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes and helps control the percentage of body fat in children and Read More >
Posted on byWinter Injuries
With winter now upon us, several storms have already hit much of the country with dangerous snow and ice. The wintery conditions can result in injuries that often lead to hospitalizations that are sometimes fatal. The impact on society is direct in terms of medical costs and indirect in terms of lost productivity. There is a wealth of NCHS data that Read More >
Posted on byAsk the Expert: Dr. Julia Holmes, Health, United States
Since 1975, Health, United States has presented national trends on the health of the Nation, including infant mortality, life expectancy, morbidity and health status, risk factors such as smoking and obesity, utilization of health care, health insurance coverage, supply of health care resources, and national expenditures for health. Compiled annually by the National Center for Read More >
Posted on byPublic-use Data Files Program Balances Data Demand and Confidentiality
NCHS’ public-use data file service gives researchers access to datasets, documentation, and questionnaires from NCHS surveys and data collection systems. Free and downloadable from the NCHS website, public-use data files allow researchers to manipulate the data in a format appropriate for their analyses. Dr. Eve Powell-Griner, NCHS Confidentiality Officer, says public-use data files are central Read More >
Posted on byTrends in Insurance Coverage and Source of Private Coverage Among Young Adults
NCHS has put a report that provides estimates describing the previous insurance status and sources of coverage among privately insured young adults aged 19–25, using data from the 2008–2012 National Health Interview Survey. Comparisons are made with adults aged 26–34, the most similar age group that was not affected by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision. Young Read More >
Posted on byMotor Vehicle Deaths
The recent news that Paul Walker, the star of the “Fast & Furious” movie series, was killed in a car crash has generated interest from the public into data on motor vehicle fatalities. Though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the main source of information about traffic accidents and fatalities in the U.S., the Read More >
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