NCHS: A Blog of the National Center for Health Statistics
New height, weight, and BMI tables available
This report presents national anthropometric reference data for all ages of the U.S. population in 2003–2006, adding to results published previously from 1960–2002. These latest NHANES data add to the knowledge about trends in child growth and development and trends in the distribution of body measurements, such as weight and height, in the U.S. population. Read More >
Posted on byFood allergies on the rise among U.S. children
More Highlights from Data Brief #10: In 2007, approximately 3 million children under age 18 years (3.9%) were reported to have a food or digestive allergy in the previous 12 months. From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of reported food allergy increased 18% among children under age 18 years. Children with food allergy are two Read More >
Posted on by 2 CommentsLatest trends in infant mortality available. U.S. ranked 29th in world, down from 23d in 1990
The U.S. infant mortality rate was 6.78 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2004, the latest year that data are available for all countries. Infant mortality rates were generally lowest (below 3.5 per 1,000) in selected Scandinavian (Sweden, Norway, Finland) and East Asian (Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore) countries. Twenty-two countries had infant mortality rates Read More >
Posted on byNew stats on end-of-life care in nursing homes
Data from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey (most recent available) sheds light on end-of-life (EOL) care in nursing homes. One in four residents began EOL care before being admitted to a nursing home. Nursing home residents receiving EOL care were older, more functionally and cognitively impaired, and more likely to have reported pain in Read More >
Posted on byNew study examines quality of race and ethnicity data on death certificates
A new study has been released that compares race and ethnicity data on death certificates with U.S. Census Bureau information. The result? American Indians and Alaska Natives are poorly reported on death certificates (that is, funeral directors may not be classifying decedents correctly). Reporting is considered good for Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics and excellent for Read More >
Posted on byFirst 2008 data on selected health measures released.
The first 2008 data (January through March) on selected health measures has been released. Estimates on vaccination, access to health care, and chronic conditions are now available. Please click here for more information! Read More >
Posted on byER Visits by Persons Recently Discharged from U.S Hospitals
Approximately 2.3 million ED visits (2.0 percent of all visits) were made by persons who had been hospitalized with the last 7 days. This corresponds to 68 ED visits per 1,000 live hospital discharges. About 10 percent of patients at these ED visits presented with medical or surgical complications that may have been related to their Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentUnites States Decennial Life Tables for 1999-2001
In 1999-2001, life expectancy at birth was 76.83 years for the total U.S. population, representing an increase of 27.59 years from a life expectancy of 49.24 years in 1900. Between 1900 and 2000, life expectancy increased by 40.08 years for black females( from 35.04 to 75.12), by 35.54 years for black males (from 32.54 to Read More >
Posted on byHospital Discharge Survey: 2006
In 2006, there were an estimated 34.9 million hospital discharges, this number does not include newborn infants. Fifty-eight percent of all discharges were hospitalized 3 days or less. The rate of coronary hospitalizations for coronary atherosclerosis for all age groups, especially those aged 65 years and over, has declined since 2002. Read the full report here. Read More >
Posted on by“Ten Leading Causes of Death by State: 2004”
Between 2003 and 2004, mortality from all 10 of the leading causes of death in the U.S. declined or did not increase in six states: Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming. (Source: National Vital Statistics System, CDC WONDER, “Ten Leading Causes of Death by State: 2004”) Read More >
Posted on byDisability and Health in the United States
Disability and Health in the United States, examines health-related differences between disabled and non-disabled noninstutionalized adults aged 18 years and over. During 2001-2005, almost 30 percent of noninstutionalized adults U.S population (approximately 62 million people) had basic actions difficulty, as indicated by reporting at least some basic difficulty with basic movement or sensory, cognitive, or Read More >
Posted on byAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disability
Did you know that 8 percent of school-aged children have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disability? The percent of children 6-17 years of age with ADHD (with and without LD) increased slowly from 1997 through 2006, whereas the percentage of children with LD (with and without ADHD) did not change significantly. Approximately 5 Read More >
Posted on by 6 CommentsInfant Mortality Rate: No Change in 2005
The infant mortality rate in the United States in 2005 was 6.86 infant (under 1 year of age) deaths per 1,000 live births, not significantly different from the rate of 6.78 in 2004 or 6.89 in 2000, according to a new report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Read More >
Posted on byMortality Rate Decreases Sharply in 2006
Preliminary number of death in the U.S. in 2006 fell to 2,425,900, a 22, 117 decrease from the 2005 total. With a rapidly growing older population, declines in the number of deaths (as opposed to death rates) are unusual, and the 2006 decline is likely the result of more mild influenza mortality in 2006 compared Read More >
Posted on byEstimating Healthy Life Expectancies
Estimating Healthy Life Expectancies Using Longitudinal Survey Data: Methods and Techniques in Population Health Measures. Read more here! Read More >
Posted on byTeen Suicide and Antidepressants
The Washington Post ran a story today based on an article appearing in the journal American Journal of Psychiatry. Warnings from federal regulators four years ago that antidepressants were increasing the risk of suicidal behavior among young people led to a precipitous drop in the use of the drugs. Now a new study has found Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentLack of Sleep Linked With Adverse Health Behaviors
Adults who sleep less than 6 hours are more likely to smoke, drink, or be obese. Read more about sleep duration, the prevalence of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, leisure-time, physical inactivity, and obesity here! Read More >
Posted on byMillion of U.S Adults are Identified as Wireless Families
Did you know that one in six homes have only wireless telephone? Approximately 31 million adults (14.0%) lived in wireless-mostly households during the last 6 months of 2007, an increase from 28 million (12.6%) during the first 6 months of 2007. Read more about wireless-mostly households here! Read More >
Posted on by 2 CommentsNew Birth Certificate Expanded Health Data, 2005
This new report presents data for 2005 on check-box items exclusive to the 2003 U.S. Standard Birth Certificate of Live Birth. Information in check-boxes is shown in the following categories: Risk factors in pregnancy, Obstetric procedures, characteristics of labor and delivery, Method of delivery, Abnormal condition of the newborn, and Congenital anomalies of the newborn. Read More >
Posted on byPoisoning and Methadone-Related Deaths: U.S, 1999-2005
Did you know that poisoning was the second leading cause of injury death in the United States in 2005? This surpasses firearms injury death for the first time in 2004. The majority of poisoning deaths are due to unintentional drug overdoses. Narcotic-related deaths have played the largest role in the increase of all poisoning deaths from 1999 Read More >
Posted on byThe Prevelance of HIV Infection Among U.S. Adults
Did you know that approximatley 0.47 percent of U.S. household population between the ages of 18 and 49 years are living with HIV, according to estimates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) based on surveys conducted between 1999-2006? Read more here! Read More >
Posted on byUnited States Life Tables
This report presents period life tables for the U.S. based on age specific death rates for the most recent year. Based on the 2004 report it seems like Americans are truly living longer. The overall expectation of life at “birth ” was 77.8 years, representing an increase of 0.4 year from life expectancy in 2003. Between Read More >
Posted on byHealth Characteristics of Asian Adult Population
New Report Examines the Health of Asian Adult Population in the United States. The report examines Asian: health behavior, health care utilization, conditions, mental health status, health status, immunization and HIV testing. Read more about Asian health characteristics here! Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentHypertension Awareness (Blood Pressure)
New report from the CDC/NCHS shows hypertention prevelence and trends overtime. Statistic shows that in 2005-2006 29% of all U.S. adults 18 years and older were hypertensive, or taking some form of medication for hypertension. Read more about hypertension here! Read More >
Posted on bySTATCAST: Dec. 12, 2007
December 12 – “High Serum Total Cholesterol – An Indicator for Monitoring Cholesterol Lowering Efforts: U.S. Adults, 2005-2006″ – Susan Schober, a senior epidemiologist with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, discusses the continued drop in cholesterol levels in the U.S. Read More >
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