Data collection began for a new 2-year cycle in August 2021 after suspension of NHANES field operations in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The August 2021-August 2023 nationally representative data files are based on an updated sample design, and modified questionnaires and examination procedures. This initial release does not contain all the data collected from this cycle. Additional survey component files are still undergoing data processing, quality assessment, and disclosure review. As these processes are completed, there will be additional public releases of data files posted on the What's New page.
The data and documentation for the interview, laboratory, and examination components of the survey are released in numerous files to facilitate ease of use and access. This multiple file format requires the user to merge files to create analytic datasets. This data release will allow for analyses of data collected in August 2021-August 2023 as well as the combination of these data with those collected in previous cycles from 1999-2000 through 2017-March 2020. Please refer to the Brief Overview and Analytic Guidance page for additional information. In addition, the NHANES Survey Methods and Analytic Guidelines site and NHANES Tutorials provide guidance on the use of appropriate sample weights and analytic strategies. Users are encouraged to check the What's New page and this site regularly for updates on available data, documentation, and guidelines. Updates on NHANES activities, products, and release dates are also provided on the NHANES Listserv.
NHANES data in this release are in SAS transport file format.
- Use the XPORT engine to access this data in any version of SAS.
- Copy the transport files to a permanent SAS library.
As an example, assume you have downloaded the Body Measures exam data to the folder "C:\NHANES". You can then use the following SAS code to copy the Body Measures Exam Data:
LIBNAME XP XPORT "C:\NHANES\bmx_l.xpt";
PROC COPY IN=XP OUT=SASUSER;
RUN;
Additional details on downloading datasets can be found in the online tutorial.