Table of Contents

Component Description

The balance section (variable name prefix BAQ) provides respondent-level interview data on balance, dizziness, and falls.

Eligible Sample

All survey participants aged 20-69 years were eligible. 

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

This questionnaire was asked, in the home or by telephone, by trained interviewers, using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) system. 

The NHANES August 2021-August 2023 questionnaire is available on the NHANES website.

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. Interviewers were required to audio-record interviews. The recorded interviews were reviewed by interviewer supervisors and NCHS staff. 

Data Processing and Editing

Frequency counts were checked, and the reasonableness of question responses was reviewed. Edits were made to ensure the completeness, consistency, and analytic usefulness of the data. 

Self-reported data collected asking similar questions but with different recall periods may result in apparent discrepancies. No edits were made to resolve possible discrepancies between BAQ530 (number of falls in the past 5 years) and BAQ550 (number of falls in the past 12 months). However, analysts may consider recoding variables for their analyses.

Analytic Notes

The analysis of NHANES August 2021–August 2023 BAQ data must be conducted using the appropriate survey design variables, sample weights, and the basic demographic variables. Although these data were collected as part of the household questionnaire, if they are merged with the MEC exam data, exam sample weights should be used for the analyses.

Please also refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for 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 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS

BAQ321A - Past 12 months, problems with vertigo

Variable Name:
BAQ321A
SAS Label:
Past 12 months, problems with vertigo
English Text:
The next questions are about symptoms of dizziness, light-headedness, or balance problems. Do not include times when drinking alcohol, using recreational drugs, or taking medications that cause dizziness. In the past 12 months, {have you/has SP} had problems with... vertigo - a sensation of spinning, tilting, swaying or rocking of {yourself/himself/herself/SP's} or {your/his/her/SP's} surroundings?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTIONS: MAKE ABOVE TEXT OPTIONAL (IN BRACKETS) for b through d. RESPONSES: YES = 1, NO = 2, REFUSED = 7, DON'T KNOW = 9.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 1151 1151
2 No 4898 6049
7 Refused 1 6050
9 Don't know 9 6059
. Missing 11 6070

BAQ321B - Past 12 months, prblms w/blurring vision

Variable Name:
BAQ321B
SAS Label:
Past 12 months, prblms w/blurring vision
English Text:
The next questions are about symptoms of dizziness, light-headedness, or balance problems. Do not include times when drinking alcohol, using recreational drugs, or taking medications that cause dizziness. In the past 12 months, {have you/has SP} had problems with... blurring of {your/his/her/SP's} vision when {you move your/he moves his/she moves her/SP moves SP's} head?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTIONS: MAKE ABOVE TEXT OPTIONAL (IN BRACKETS) for b through d. RESPONSES: YES = 1, NO = 2, REFUSED = 7, DON'T KNOW = 9.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 684 684
2 No 5369 6053
7 Refused 1 6054
9 Don't know 5 6059
. Missing 11 6070

BAQ321C - Past 12 months, problems with unsteady

Variable Name:
BAQ321C
SAS Label:
Past 12 months, problems with unsteady
English Text:
The next questions are about symptoms of dizziness, light-headedness, or balance problems. Do not include times when drinking alcohol, using recreational drugs, or taking medications that cause dizziness. In the past 12 months, {have you/has SP} had problems with... unsteadiness - a feeling of being off-balance or not stable when standing or sitting upright?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTIONS: MAKE ABOVE TEXT OPTIONAL (IN BRACKETS) for b through d. RESPONSES: YES = 1, NO = 2, REFUSED = 7, DON'T KNOW = 9.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 1433 1433
2 No 4620 6053
7 Refused 2 6055
9 Don't know 3 6058
. Missing 12 6070

BAQ321D - Past 12 months, problems w/light-headed

Variable Name:
BAQ321D
SAS Label:
Past 12 months, problems w/light-headed
English Text:
The next questions are about symptoms of dizziness, light-headedness, or balance problems. Do not include times when drinking alcohol, using recreational drugs, or taking medications that cause dizziness. In the past 12 months, {have you/has SP} had problems with... light-headedness - without a sense of motion, OR fainting - a feeling {you are/he is/she is/SP is} going to pass out or faint
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTIONS: MAKE ABOVE TEXT OPTIONAL (IN BRACKETS) for b through d. RESPONSES: YES = 1, NO = 2, REFUSED = 7, DON'T KNOW = 9.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 1202 1202
2 No 4851 6053
7 Refused 2 6055
9 Don't know 3 6058
. Missing 12 6070

BAQ341 - Past 12 months, which bothered the most?

Variable Name:
BAQ341
SAS Label:
Past 12 months, which bothered the most?
English Text:
This next section focuses on {your/SP's} most bothersome symptom in the past 12 months. During the past 12 months, which one of these problems bothered {you/SP} the most?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTION: ONLY DISPLAY RESPONSE OPTIONS WITH A "YES" RESPONSE RECORDED IN QUESTIONS BAQ.321a TO BAQ.321d. BAQ.321a = RESPONSE OPTION 1, BAQ.321b = RESPONSE OPTION 2, BAQ.321c = RESPONSE OPTION 3, BAQ.321d = RESPONSE OPTION 4.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Vertigo 536 536
2 Blurring vision 233 769
3 Unsteadiness 638 1407
4 Light-headed or fainting 715 2122
7 Refused 1 2123
9 Don't know 16 2139
. Missing 3931 6070

BAQ391A - Episodes with nausea or vomiting?

Variable Name:
BAQ391A
SAS Label:
Episodes with nausea or vomiting?
English Text:
During the past 12 months, were {your/SP's} episodes for {your/his/her/SP's} {RESPONSE FOR BAQ.341} accompanied by the following?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTION: FILL {RESPONSE FOR BAQ.341} WITH TEXT OF RESPONSE SELECTED FOR BAQ.341.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 511 511
2 No 1609 2120
7 Refused 0 2120
9 Don't know 2 2122
. Missing 3948 6070

BAQ391B - Episodes with migraine/severe headache?

Variable Name:
BAQ391B
SAS Label:
Episodes with migraine/severe headache?
English Text:
During the past 12 months, were {your/SP's} episodes for {your/his/her/SP's} {RESPONSE FOR BAQ.341} accompanied by the following?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTION: FILL {RESPONSE FOR BAQ.341} WITH TEXT OF RESPONSE SELECTED FOR BAQ.341.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 736 736
2 No 1384 2120
7 Refused 0 2120
9 Don't know 2 2122
. Missing 3948 6070

BAQ401 - Balance prevent you from doing things

Variable Name:
BAQ401
SAS Label:
Balance prevent you from doing things
English Text:
During the past 12 months, {did your/SP's} dizziness or balance problem(s) prevent {you/SP} from doing things {you/he/she/SP} otherwise would do, such as, work, school, or other scheduled activities?
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 728 728
2 No 1410 2138
7 Refused 0 2138
9 Don't know 1 2139
. Missing 3931 6070

BAQ421 - How much of a problem was balance?

Variable Name:
BAQ421
SAS Label:
How much of a problem was balance?
English Text:
During the past 12 months, how much of a problem was {your/his/her/SP's} problem with balance, blurred vision, or light-headedness and fainting? Was it...
English Instructions:
INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: IF RESPONDENT IS UNCLEAR HOW TO ANSWER BECAUSE EPISODES VARY, THEN JUST ASK THE RESPONDENT TO THINK ABOUT THEIR TYPICAL EPISODE TO RESPOND.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 No problem, 577 577
2 A small problem, 899 1476
3 A moderate problem, 443 1919
4 A big problem, or 142 2061
5 A very big problem? 78 2139
7 Refused 0 2139
9 Don't know 0 2139
. Missing 3931 6070

BAQ431 - Ever see health professional for balance

Variable Name:
BAQ431
SAS Label:
Ever see health professional for balance
English Text:
Think of any time {you have/SP has} had symptoms of dizziness, imbalance, etc. {Have you/Has SP} ever seen a doctor or other health professional, including emergency room physicians, about {your/his/her/SP's} problem(s) with balance, blurred vision, or light-headedness and fainting?
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 981 981
2 No 1156 2137
7 Refused 0 2137
9 Don't know 2 2139
. Missing 3931 6070

BAQ491 - Ever tried to treat balance problems?

Variable Name:
BAQ491
SAS Label:
Ever tried to treat balance problems?
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever tried anything to treat {your/his/her/SP's} problem(s) with balance, blurred vision, or light-headedness and fainting?
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 876 876
2 No 1258 2134
7 Refused 0 2134
9 Don't know 5 2139
. Missing 3931 6070

BAQ530 - Past 5 years, how many times fallen?

Variable Name:
BAQ530
SAS Label:
Past 5 years, how many times fallen?
English Text:
The next questions are about frequency of falling and associated injuries. By "falling", we mean unexpectedly or unintentionally dropping to a lower surface - the floor or ground - for example, from a standing, seated, walking, or bending position. During the past 5 years, how many times {have you/has SP} fallen?
English Instructions:
INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: A FALL CAN BE FROM ANY POSITION.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Never 3220 3220 End of Section
2 1 or 2 times 1615 4835
3 3 to 4 times 604 5439
4 About every year 368 5807
5 About every month 153 5960
6 About every week 43 6003
7 Daily or constantly 27 6030
77 Refused 1 6031 End of Section
99 Don't know 29 6060 End of Section
. Missing 10 6070

BAQ550 - Past 12 months, number of times fallen?

Variable Name:
BAQ550
SAS Label:
Past 12 months, number of times fallen?
English Text:
During the past 12 months, how many times {have you/has SP} fallen?
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Never 1087 1087 End of Section
2 1 or 2 times 1316 2403
3 3 to 4 times 204 2607
4 5 to 9 times 103 2710
5 10 or more times 93 2803
7 Refused 0 2803
9 Don't know 7 2810
. Missing 3260 6070

BAQ560 - Past 12 mnths, have injury from falling?

Variable Name:
BAQ560
SAS Label:
Past 12 mnths, have injury from falling?
English Text:
During the past 12 months, did {you/SP} have an injury that resulted from falling?
English Instructions:
INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION:INJURIES INCLUDE CUTS OR WOUNDS, DISLOCATION OF JOINTS, FRACTURES OR BROKEN BONES, PAIN, ACHE OR STRAIN TO THE SPINE OR BACK, HEAD OR NECK INJURY, SPRAIN OR TORN LIGAMENT OR MUSCLE, AND SWELLING OR BRUISING.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 69 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 588 588
2 No 1131 1719
7 Refused 0 1719
9 Don't know 4 1723
. Missing 4347 6070