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Health Statistics: National Data Sets & Statistics

This guide has sources of Health Statistics that can be used for public health research.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides point of access to all public health data and statistics sites developed through CDC.

FastStats A to Z  The FastStats site provides quick access to statistics on topics of public health importance and is organized alphabetically.
BRFSS - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the world's largest, on-going telephone health survey system. 
CDC WONDER 

Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research 

▫Can manipulate data to run reports
▫Purposes:
–To promote information-driven decision making by placing timely, useful facts in the hands of public health practitioners & researchers, and
–To provide the general public with access to specific and detailed information

 
NHANES - National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations.

▫Assesses health and nutritional status of adults and children (non-institutionalized civilian population)
▫Continuous survey since 1999
▫Examines about 5,000 persons each year
▫Combines face-to-face interviews and physical exams

 
WISQARS – Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System 

(Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System) is an interactive database system that provides customized reports of injury-related data.

▫Interactive
▫Customizable reports
▫Fatal and nonfatal injury, violent death, and cost of injury data

 
 
 

Federal Agencies

  1. SAMHSA - Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration -- 
    ▫Substance abuse prevalence, treatment, and consequences
    ▫Drug-related emergency room visits, drug-related deaths, and the substance abuse treatment system
    ▫Mental health topic information
  2. CMS - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services -- 
    ▫Formerly HCFA
    ▫Used primarily by researchers and health care professionals
    ▫Statistics on enrollment, spending, and claims data for Medicare and Medicaid 
  3. AHRQ – Agency for Health Care Research and Quality -- 
    ▫Quality improvement & patient safety
    ▫Outcomes & effectiveness of care
    ▫Clinical practice & technology assessment
    ▫Health care organization & delivery systems
    ▫Discharge-level health care data
  4. U.S. Census Bureau 
  5. U.S. Census Quick Facts --  Demographic data on national, state, county levels
    ▫Population & Housing Census - every 10 years
    ▫Economic Census - every 5 years
    ▫Census of Governments - every 5 years
    ▫American Community Survey - annually
    ▫Other surveys - both demographic & economic
    ▫Economic Indicators  - specific schedules        
  6. Federal Government and Statistical Agencies