Table of Contents

Component Description

The Blood Pressure/Cholesterol section (variable name prefix BPQ) provides personal interview data on awareness, treatment, and control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Eligible Sample

All survey participants aged 16 years and older 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, “skip” patterns were verified, and the reasonableness of question responses was reviewed. Edits were made to ensure the completeness, consistency, and analytic usefulness of the data. Edits were also made, when necessary, to address data disclosure concerns.

Analytic Notes

Several questions were dropped in NHANES 2021-2023 and are not included in this data file, including BPQ040A, BPQ050A, BPQ090D, and BPQ100D. The skip pattern for BP medication use changed, so the BPQ050A variable for BP medication use in previous cycles was replaced with BPQ150 in NHANES 2021-2023. The skip pattern for cholesterol medication use changed, so the BPQ100D variable for cholesterol medication use in previous cycles was replaced with BPQ101D. 

The analysis of NHANES August 2021–August 2023 BPQ 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 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS

BPQ020 - Ever told you had high blood pressure

Variable Name:
BPQ020
SAS Label:
Ever told you had high blood pressure
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that {you/s/he} had hypertension, also called high blood pressure?
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2969 2969
2 No 5518 8487 BPQ080
7 Refused 1 8488 BPQ080
9 Don't know 10 8498 BPQ080
. Missing 3 8501

BPQ030 - Told had high blood pressure - 2+ times

Variable Name:
BPQ030
SAS Label:
Told had high blood pressure - 2+ times
English Text:
{Were you/Was SP} told on 2 or more different visits that {you/s/he} had hypertension, also called high blood pressure?
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2468 2468
2 No 474 2942
7 Refused 1 2943
9 Don't know 25 2968
. Missing 5533 8501

BPQ150 - Taking high blood pressure medication

Variable Name:
BPQ150
SAS Label:
Taking high blood pressure medication
English Text:
{Are you/Is SP} now taking any medication prescribed by a doctor for {your/his/her/SP's} high blood pressure?
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2442 2442
2 No 523 2965
7 Refused 0 2965
9 Don't know 4 2969
. Missing 5532 8501

BPQ080 - Doctor told you - high cholesterol level

Variable Name:
BPQ080
SAS Label:
Doctor told you - high cholesterol level
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that {your/his/her} blood cholesterol level was high?
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 3096 3096
2 No 5348 8444
7 Refused 1 8445
9 Don't know 53 8498
. Missing 3 8501

BPQ101D - Taking meds to lower blood cholesterol?

Variable Name:
BPQ101D
SAS Label:
Taking meds to lower blood cholesterol?
English Text:
{Are you/Is SP} now taking any medication prescribed by a doctor lower {your/his/her/SP's} blood cholesterol?
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2126 2126
2 No 6339 8465
7 Refused 0 8465
9 Don't know 33 8498
. Missing 3 8501