Description

ARTHRITEV identifies sample children and, for 2001 and 2007, sample adults whom a doctor or other health professional had ever diagnosed as having arthritis.

Beginning in 2001, the Field Representative's Manual defined arthritis as "an inflammation of one or more joints of the body, usually producing pain, redness, and stiffness." This definition was not routinely shared with respondents.

Comparability

With the exception of a small change in question wording, this variable is comparable for sample children over time. In 1997-2000, respondents for sample children were shown a list of conditions that included "Arthritis" and were asked, "Looking at this list, has a doctor or health professional ever told you that [sample child] had any of these conditions?" For 2001 forward, the question format remained the same; however, the wording was changed slightly so that respondents were asked if a doctor or other health professional had ever diagnosed the sample child with arthritis.

There are differences in the question wording for children versus adults, and substantial differences in the question wording for adults over time.

In 2001, sample adults were asked, "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had ... Arthritis?"

From 2007 forward, sample adults were first asked if they had been diagnosed as having "some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia" by a doctor or other health professional, with responses recorded in ARTHGLUPEV. Respondents with an affirmative answer in ARTHGLUPEV were asked the follow-up question, "Which of these were you told you had?," with "Arthritis" listed as a possible response. Other possible responses included:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (ARTHRHEUMEV)

• Gout (ARTHGOUTEV)

• Lupus (ARTHLUPUSEV)

• Fibromyalgia (ARTHFIBROEV)

• Other joint condition (ARTHOTHEV)

Respondents could report more than one condition, as interviewers were instructed to enter all that applied.

Universe

Availability

• 1997-2018

Weights

• 1997-2018 : SAMPWEIGHT