Description

FLANY is a recoded variable that indicates whether sample adults had difficulty doing any of several specific activities because of a health problem. Interviewers defined "health problem" as "any physical, mental, or emotional problem or illness (not including pregnancy)."

FLANY is a recode of information from several questions:

If the person acknowledged having any difficulty with any of these activities, FLANY is coded as "limited in any way" (IPUMS NHIS code 10). FLANY is thus a summary measure that indicates whether a person is limited in any way in these various functional activities.

Comparability

For 1997, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) public use data files combine the categories of "Not limited in any way" and "Unknown if limited" into the single "Not limited in any way or unknown" (IHIS code 90). In contrast, for 1998 forward, these two categories are separated into two categories (IHIS codes 91 and 99 respectively). Researchers who want complete comparability for 1997 forward should combine the categories "Not limited in any way" (IHIS code 91) and "Unknown if limited" (IHIS code 99) into a single category.

Universe

Availability

• 1997-2018

Weights

• 1997-2018 : SAMPWEIGHT