Codes and Frequencies
Description
For persons age 18+ who have at least one activity limitation (LANY), and for whom a musculoskeletal problem was reported as a condition causing any activity limitation (CLIMMUSCLE), CLIMMUSCLEY reports the duration, in years, of the musculoskeletal problem.
Data on the duration of limiting musculoskeletal problem were collected via the question, "How long [have/has] [you/person] had [a musculoskeletal problem]?" Respondents could answer this open-ended question using the time unit of their choice (i.e., days, weeks, months, or years). The original responses to the question are reported in two complementary variables, CLIMMUSCLETP (which specifies the time unit) and CLIMMUSCLENO (which reports the number of such units). For the NHIS public use files, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) recoded the results from these two variables to create two other variables using standard time units: years (CLIMMUSCLEY) and groups of months (CLIMMUSCLEMO).
Comparability
Apart from a change in the coding of "unknown" cases, this variable is comparable across years.
In 2002 forward, the unknowns were categorized as:
- Unknown number of years (IPUMS NHIS code 96)
- Unknown-refused (IHIS code 97)
- Unknown-not ascertained (IHIS code 98)
- Unknown-don't know (IHIS code 99)
However, in 1997-2001, the category of "Unknown number of years" did not occur.
Analysts can achieve comparability across all years by combining the above codes into a single "unknown" category.
Universe
- 1997-2013; 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018: Persons age 18+ limited due to musculoskeletal or connective tissue problem.
Availability
- 1997-2018
Weights
- 1997-2018 : PERWEIGHT
