Table of Contents

Component Description

The Current Health Status section (variable name prefix HSQ) provides personal interview data on overall health assessment, quality of life (past 30 days), recent illness (past 30 days), blood donation, and AIDS testing.

Eligible Sample

Survey participants 1-11 years old are only asked 3 questions regarding recent illness (HSQ500, HSQ510, HSQ520). The remaining questions are asked of participants 12 years of age and older, except for the blood donation and AIDS testing questions which are asked of participants 16 years of age and older.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

The Current Health Status questionnaire was done in the Mobile Examination Center (MEC), by trained interviewers using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system. It was conducted by a MEC interviewer, during the MEC Interview, for survey participants 12 and older.  It was conducted by a dietary interviewer, during the MEC dietary recall interview, for study participants 1-11 years old (proxy interview).

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

The CAPI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors. CAPI also uses online help screens to assist interviewers in defining key terms used in the questionnaire.

All of the data was reviewed for accuracy and completeness.

Data Processing and Editing

Frequency counts were verified during the preparation of the file.

Analytic Notes

HSD010 This identical question is asked in the Hospital Utilization section of the household questionnaire (HUQ010). There is a small difference in the administration of the two questions.  Participants  12-15 years old  have proxy responses in the household, but respond for themselves at the MEC. Many participants had different responses to this question in the household interview, compared to their responses in the MEC interview. Analysts should consider which of the two versions of this question is best to use for the purposes of their analyses.

HSQ500, HSQ510, and HSQ520 were asked in the Dietary Recall section for participants 1– 11 years of age. Respondents 12 years and older were asked the same questions during the MEC CAPI Interview. (The variable HSAQUEX identifies the source of data for each respondent.)

HSQ571 The question on blood donation, HSQ570, was re-worded in 2002 (dropping the phrase “a year ago”) and was re-numbered HSQ571. For the 2001-2002 data release, responses to both versions of this question were combined into one variable, named HSD570. For  releases from 2003-2012 data , only question HSQ571 was asked.

Two questions, HSQ493 (recent pain) and HSQ496 (recent worry/anxiety), were asked only of respondents 12 years and older, during the MEC CAPI interview.

Exam sample weights should be used for analyses.  Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines (https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/analyticguidelines.aspx) and the on-line NHANES Tutorial (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/tutorials/) for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

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 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS

HSD010 - General health condition

Variable Name:
HSD010
SAS Label:
General health condition
English Text:
Next I have some general questions about {your/SP's} health. Would you say {your/SP's} health in general is . . .
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Excellent 655 655
2 Very good, 1714 2369
3 Good, 2328 4697
4 Fair, or 1014 5711
5 Poor? 181 5892
7 Refused 0 5892
9 Don't know 0 5892
. Missing 3064 8956

HSQ470 - no. of days physical health was not good

Variable Name:
HSQ470
SAS Label:
no. of days physical health was not good
English Text:
The next questions are about {your/SP's} recent health during the 30 days outlined on the calendar. Thinking about {your/SP's} physical health, which includes physical illness and injury, for how many days during the past 30 days was {your/his/her} physical health not good?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTION: HARD EDIT VALUES: 0-30. HAND CARD HSQ1. ENTER # OF DAYS
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 30 Range of Values 5881 5881
77 Refused 0 5881
99 Don't know 11 5892
. Missing 3064 8956

HSQ480 - no. of days mental health was not good

Variable Name:
HSQ480
SAS Label:
no. of days mental health was not good
English Text:
Now thinking about {your/SP's} mental health, which includes stess, depression, and problems with emotions, for how many days during the past 30 days was {your/his/her} mental health not good?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD HSQ1 CAPI INSTRUCTION: HARD EDIT VALUES: 0-30. ENTER # OF DAYS
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 30 Range of Values 5883 5883
77 Refused 0 5883
99 Don't know 9 5892
. Missing 3064 8956

HSQ490 - inactive days due to phys./mental hlth

Variable Name:
HSQ490
SAS Label:
inactive days due to phys./mental hlth
English Text:
During the past 30 days, for about how many days did poor physical or mental health keep {you/SP} from doing {your/his/her} usual activities, such as self-care, work, school or recreation?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD HSQ1 CAPI INSTRUCTION: HARD EDIT VALUES: 0-30. ENTER # OF DAYS
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 30 Range of Values 5884 5884
77 Refused 0 5884
99 Don't know 7 5891
. Missing 3065 8956

HSQ493 - Pain make it hard for usual activities

Variable Name:
HSQ493
SAS Label:
Pain make it hard for usual activities
English Text:
During the past 30 days, for about how many days did pain make it hard for {you/SP} to do {your/his/her} usual activities, such as self-care, work, or recreation?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD HSQ1 ENTER # OF DAYS
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 30 Range of Values 5886 5886
77 Refused 0 5886
99 Don't know 5 5891
. Missing 3065 8956

HSQ496 - How many days feel anxious

Variable Name:
HSQ496
SAS Label:
How many days feel anxious
English Text:
During the past 30 days, for about how many days {have you/has SP} felt worried, tense, or anxious?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD HSQ1 ENTER # OF DAYS
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 30 Range of Values 5883 5883
77 Refused 1 5884
99 Don't know 5 5889
. Missing 3067 8956

HSQ500 - SP have head cold or chest cold

Variable Name:
HSQ500
SAS Label:
SP have head cold or chest cold
English Text:
Did {you/SP} have a head cold or chest cold that started during those 30 days?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD HSQ1
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 1535 1535
2 No 6574 8109
7 Refused 6 8115
9 Don't know 22 8137
. Missing 819 8956

HSQ510 - SP have stomach or intestinal illness?

Variable Name:
HSQ510
SAS Label:
SP have stomach or intestinal illness?
English Text:
Did {you/SP} have a stomach or intestinal illness with vomiting or diarrhea that started during those 30 days?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD HSQ1
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 589 589
2 No 7529 8118
7 Refused 5 8123
9 Don't know 14 8137
. Missing 819 8956

HSQ520 - SP have flu, pneumonia, ear infection?

Variable Name:
HSQ520
SAS Label:
SP have flu, pneumonia, ear infection?
English Text:
Did {you/SP} have flu, pneumonia, or ear infections that started during those 30 days?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD HSQ1
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 329 329
2 No 7780 8109
7 Refused 7 8116
9 Don't know 21 8137
. Missing 819 8956

HSQ571 - SP donated blood in past 12 months?

Variable Name:
HSQ571
SAS Label:
SP donated blood in past 12 months?
English Text:
During the past 12 months, that is, since (DISPLAY CURRENT MONTH, DISPLAY LAST YEAR), (have you/has SP) donated blood?
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 261 261
2 No 5016 5277 HSQ590
7 Refused 0 5277 HSQ590
9 Don't know 6 5283 HSQ590
. Missing 3673 8956

HSQ580 - How long ago was last blood donation?

Variable Name:
HSQ580
SAS Label:
How long ago was last blood donation?
English Text:
How long ago was {your/SP's} last blood donation?
English Instructions:
IF LESS THAN ONE MONTH, ENTER '1'. CAPI INSTRUCTION: HARD EDIT VALUES: 1-12. ENTER # OF MONTHS.
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 12 Range of Values 261 261
77 Refused 0 261
99 Don't know 0 261
. Missing 8695 8956

HSQ590 - Blood ever tested for HIV virus?

Variable Name:
HSQ590
SAS Label:
Blood ever tested for HIV virus?
English Text:
Except for tests {you/SP} may have had as part of blood donations, {have you/has he/has she} ever had {your/his/her} blood tested for the AIDS virus infection?
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 1795 1795
2 No 3297 5092
7 Refused 0 5092
9 Don't know 191 5283
. Missing 3673 8956

HSAQUEX - Source of Health Status Data

Variable Name:
HSAQUEX
SAS Label:
Source of Health Status Data
English Text:
Source of Health Status Data
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Dietary Recall Component -- B(1-11) 2407 2407
2 MEC CAPI Questionnaire -- B(12-150) 6549 8956
. Missing 0 8956