Table of Contents

Component Description

The Balance Questionnaire (variable name prefix BAQ) provides sample person interview data on the self-reported prevalence of balance, dizziness, and falls. This is of importance because of the increasing morbidity and mortality associated with balance disorders among older persons in the U.S.

Topics Included in the Section:

Questionnaire Source(s):

All the questions in the current NHANES balance questionnaire were newly developed for this survey in consultation with expert consultants from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD).

Links to examination and laboratory data:

Balance Physical Examination data are found in the Balance Section of the NHANES 2001-2002 Examination Files.

Eligible Sample

All sample persons 40 years of age and older were asked these questions. There were no exclusions for this questionnaire segment.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

Home Interview; In-person.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

Balance questionnaire data was systematically reviewed for logical, processing and data input errors on a periodic basis during the process of data collection.

Data Processing and Editing

The 2001-2002 Balance Questionnaire data was verified prior to public release.

Analytic Notes

Balance data analysis is a complex, and requires knowledge of the specialty content area for valid results to be obtained. If an analyst does not have professional experience in this area, it is recommended that specialty consultation be obtained to help formulate and review the results of the analysis.

Data Access:

The BAQ data are publicly available at www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm except for detailed data for BAQ080B and BAQ080C. Requests for this data should be made to the NHCS Research Data Center.

References

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS

BAQ010 - Dizzy/balance/falling problems/past yr

Variable Name:
BAQ010
SAS Label:
Dizzy/balance/falling problems/past yr
English Text:
During the past 12 months, {have you/has SP} had dizziness, difficulty with balance or difficulty with falling?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 922 922
2 No 2557 3479 BAQ070
7 Refused 2 3481 BAQ070
9 Don't know 1 3482 BAQ070
. Missing 4 3486

BAQ020A - Dizziness problems in past year

Variable Name:
BAQ020A
SAS Label:
Dizziness problems in past year
English Text:
Which of these problems {have you/has SP} had . . .dizziness?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTION: TEXT OF QUESTION SHOULD BE OPTIONAL AFTER THE FIRST TIME.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 655 655 BAQ030a
2 No 264 919
7 Refused 0 919
9 Don't know 3 922
. Missing 2564 3486

BAQ020B - Balance problems in past year

Variable Name:
BAQ020B
SAS Label:
Balance problems in past year
English Text:
Which of these problems {have you/has SP} had . . .difficulty with balance?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 595 595 BAQ030b
2 No 325 920
7 Refused 0 920
9 Don't know 2 922
. Missing 2564 3486

BAQ020C - Falling problems in past year

Variable Name:
BAQ020C
SAS Label:
Falling problems in past year
English Text:
Which of these problems {have you/has SP} had . . .difficulty with falling?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 266 266
2 No 654 920
7 Refused 0 920
9 Don't know 2 922
. Missing 2564 3486

BAQ030A - How long did dizziness last

Variable Name:
BAQ030A
SAS Label:
How long did dizziness last
English Text:
How long did the... dizziness last? Would you say less than two weeks, 2 weeks to 3 months, or more than 3 months?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Less than 2 weeks 457 457 BAQ020b
2 2 weeks to 3 months 64 521 BAQ020b
3 More than 3 months 128 649 BAQ020b
7 Refused 0 649 BAQ020b
9 Don't know 6 655 BAQ020b
. Missing 2831 3486

BAQ030B - How long did balance problem last

Variable Name:
BAQ030B
SAS Label:
How long did balance problem last
English Text:
How long did the... difficulty with balance last? Would you say less than two weeks, 2 weeks to 3 months, or more than 3 months?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Less than 2 weeks 299 299 BAQ020c
2 2 weeks to 3 months 61 360 BAQ020c
3 More than 3 months 228 588 BAQ020c
7 Refused 0 588 BAQ020c
9 Don't know 7 595 BAQ020c
. Missing 2891 3486

BAQ040 - Get dizzy when turn over in bed

Variable Name:
BAQ040
SAS Label:
Get dizzy when turn over in bed
English Text:
{Do you/Does SP} get dizzy when {you/s/he} turn{s} over in bed?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 131 131
2 No 784 915
7 Refused 0 915
9 Don't know 7 922
. Missing 2564 3486

BAQ060A - Off balance due to cold or flu

Variable Name:
BAQ060A
SAS Label:
Off balance due to cold or flu
English Text:
Which of the things on this list, if any, were related to {your/SP's} dizziness or balance problem?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY. HAND CARD BAQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 A cold or the flu 64 64
77 Refused 0 64
99 Don't know 82 146
. Missing 3340 3486

BAQ060B - Off balance due to injury or accident

Variable Name:
BAQ060B
SAS Label:
Off balance due to injury or accident
English Text:
Which of the things on this list, if any, were related to {your/SP's} dizziness or balance problem?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY. HAND CARD BAQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
2 Injuries or accidents 55 55
. Missing 3431 3486

BAQ060C - Off balance due to drugs or medicine

Variable Name:
BAQ060C
SAS Label:
Off balance due to drugs or medicine
English Text:
Which of the things on this list, if any, were related to {your/SP's} dizziness or balance problem?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY. HAND CARD BAQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
3 Use of drugs or medications 132 132
. Missing 3354 3486

BAQ060D - Off balance due to aging

Variable Name:
BAQ060D
SAS Label:
Off balance due to aging
English Text:
Which of the things on this list, if any, were related to {your/SP's} dizziness or balance problem?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY. HAND CARD BAQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
4 Age or getting older 308 308
. Missing 3178 3486

BAQ060E - Off balance due to surgery

Variable Name:
BAQ060E
SAS Label:
Off balance due to surgery
English Text:
Which of the things on this list, if any, were related to {your/SP's} dizziness or balance problem?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY. HAND CARD BAQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
5 Surgery 32 32
. Missing 3454 3486

BAQ060F - Off balance due to hearing problem

Variable Name:
BAQ060F
SAS Label:
Off balance due to hearing problem
English Text:
Which of the things on this list, if any, were related to {your/SP's} dizziness or balance problem?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY. HAND CARD BAQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
6 Hearing problems - including ringing in the ears 134 134
. Missing 3352 3486

BAQ060G - Off balance due to vision problem

Variable Name:
BAQ060G
SAS Label:
Off balance due to vision problem
English Text:
Which of the things on this list, if any, were related to {your/SP's} dizziness or balance problem?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY. HAND CARD BAQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
7 Vision or seeing problems 80 80
. Missing 3406 3486

BAQ060H - Nothing related to balance problem

Variable Name:
BAQ060H
SAS Label:
Nothing related to balance problem
English Text:
Which of the things on this list, if any, were related to {your/SP's} dizziness or balance problem?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY. HAND CARD BAQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
8 None 237 237
. Missing 3249 3486

BAQ070 - Received treatment for dizziness/balance

Variable Name:
BAQ070
SAS Label:
Received treatment for dizziness/balance
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever been treated by a doctor or other health professional for dizziness, a balance problem, or falling?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 415 415
2 No 3056 3471 BAQ100
7 Refused 3 3474 BAQ100
9 Don't know 8 3482 BAQ100
. Missing 4 3486

BAQ075 - How long ago were you treated

Variable Name:
BAQ075
SAS Label:
How long ago were you treated
English Text:
How long ago {were you/was SP} treated? Would you say . . .
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Less than 1 year ago, 179 179
2 1 to 5 years ago, or 118 297
3 5 years or more ago? 114 411
7 Refused 0 411
9 Don't know 4 415
. Missing 3071 3486

BAQ080A - Did treatment involve medication

Variable Name:
BAQ080A
SAS Label:
Did treatment involve medication
English Text:
Did this treatment involve. . .medication?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTION: TEXT SHOULD BE OPTIONAL [ ] AFTER FIRST ITEM.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 302 302
2 No 107 409
7 Refused 0 409
9 Don't know 6 415
. Missing 3071 3486

BAQ080B - Did treatment involve surgery to ear

Variable Name:
BAQ080B
SAS Label:
Did treatment involve surgery to ear
English Text:
Did this treatment involve. . .surgery to the ear?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 6 6
2 No 409 415
7 Refused 0 415
9 Don't know 0 415
. Missing 3071 3486

BAQ080C - Did treatment involve other type surgery

Variable Name:
BAQ080C
SAS Label:
Did treatment involve other type surgery
English Text:
Did this treatment involve. . .some other type of surgery?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 18 18
2 No 397 415
7 Refused 0 415
9 Don't know 0 415
. Missing 3071 3486

BAQ080D - Did treatment involve exercises

Variable Name:
BAQ080D
SAS Label:
Did treatment involve exercises
English Text:
Did this treatment involve. . .exercises or physical therapy?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 45 45
2 No 369 414
7 Refused 0 414
9 Don't know 1 415
. Missing 3071 3486

BAQ090 - Treatment affect on dizziness/balance

Variable Name:
BAQ090
SAS Label:
Treatment affect on dizziness/balance
English Text:
As a result of this treatment, did {your/SP's} condition. . .
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Get better, 316 316
2 Get worse, or 10 326
3 Stay the same? 86 412
7 Refused 0 412
9 Don't know 3 415
. Missing 3071 3486

BAQ100 - Blood relative dizziness/balance problem

Variable Name:
BAQ100
SAS Label:
Blood relative dizziness/balance problem
English Text:
Have any of {your/SP's} biological, that is, blood relatives (grandparents, parents, brothers, or sisters) had a problem with dizziness, balance, or falling not related to aging?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 619 619
2 No 2670 3289
7 Refused 5 3294
9 Don't know 188 3482
. Missing 4 3486