Description

SCOLIOYRC indicates whether the person had chronic scoliosis in the past year. This variable is created with supplemental programming by the IPUMS NHIS staff from the pre-1997 condition records. For general information about IHIS variables (such as SCOLIOYRC) created from the pre-1997 condition records, see the User Note on Condition Records and Condition Variables.

Defining Scoliosis Records and Identifying Persons with Scoliosis

For all available years, persons who were asked a direct question about scoliosis and who have a chronic scoliosis condition record are given a "Yes" code for SCOLIOYRC. Persons who were asked a direct question about scoliosis but do not have a chronic scoliosis record are given a code of "No." Persons who were not asked a direct question about scoliosis, or for whom it is unknown whether they were asked such a question, are given a code of "NIU" (not in universe), regardless of whether they have a chronic scoliosis record.

For 1969, 1976, and 1978, scoliosis records were defined as those condition records with a code of "X80" ("Curvature of spine") in the variable DIAGR1 in the original NHIS public use files. This condition code value comes from NCHS's Diagnostic Recode #1: Diseases, Injuries, and Impairments, not from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Additionally, to be considered "chronic," scoliosis condition records must have a code of "1" ("Chronic") in the variable CONDCODE (1969) or CACODE (1976, 1978) in the original NHIS public use files.

For 1979-1981, scoliosis records were defined as those condition records with a code of "X70" ("curvature and other structural deformities of spine or back, except as in X71.9 [spina bifida with meningocele]") in the variable DIAGR1 in the original NHIS public use files. This condition code value comes from NCHS's Diagnostic Recode #1: Diseases, Injuries, and Impairments, not from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. As with earlier years, to be considered "chronic," scoliosis condition records must have a code of "1" ("Chronic") in the variable CACODE in the original NHIS public use files.

For 1982-1983, chronic scoliosis records were defined as those condition records with a code of "228" ("Curvature or other deformity of back or spine") in the variable C1CONDRC in the original NHIS public use files. This condition code value comes from NCHS's Diagnostic Recode C: Chronic Conditions and Impairments.

Weights
For 1969 and 1976, SCOLIOYRC should be weighted with PERWEIGHT.

For 1978 to 1982, SCOLIOYRC should be weighted with CONDWT2.

For 1983, SCOLIOYRC should be weighted with CONDWT1.

Comparability

As with all of the person-level condition variables created by IHIS from condition records prior to 1997, the universe for SCOLIOYRC is substantially different for 1978 forward than it is for years prior to 1978. Beginning in 1978, only persons living in 1/6 of households, rather than all persons, were asked a direct question about having scoliosis in the past year. There is also a minor universe change between 1978-1982 and 1983. These changes require that different weight variables be used depending on which years of data are analyzed. See the "Description" tab for details.

Additionally, there is a change in the way "Yes" responses are coded over time. See the User Note on Condition Records and Condition Variables for details about the composite coding scheme employed by IHIS.

Universe

Availability

• 1969, 1976, 1978-1983

Weights

• 1969, 1976 : PERWEIGHT
• 1983 : CONDWT1
• 1978-1982 : CONDWT2