IPUMS Health Surveys News

Archived IPUMS Health Surveys News

Details

October 2024: Release of 2022 MEPS sample through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS MEPS now includes data from the 2022 sample; over 1,100 variables from the Full Year Consolidated, Condition, Event, Prescribed Medicine, Appendix to the Event, and Pooled Variance files are now available. New variables include data about Long COVID.

August 2024: Release of additional 2022 NHIS data through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes approximately 600 variables from the recently released 2023 NHIS data.

March 2024: Release of additional 2022 NHIS data through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes more than 150 additional variables from the 2022 NHIS samples. These variables contain information about diet/nutrition, complementary/integrative health, voice/swallowing/speech/language disorders, and more.

October 2023: Release of 2021 MEPS sample through IPUMS Health Surveys

More than 900 variables from the recently released 2021 MEPS Full-Year Consolidated file are now available through IPUMS Health Surveys, including new variables from the Social Determinants of Health supplement.

August 2023: Release of 2022 NHIS sample through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes approximately 600 variables from the recently released 2022 NHIS data.

July 2023: Release of MEPS Prescribed Medicines data through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes more than 70 additional variables from the Prescribed Medicines files. These variables include information on medication type, drug name, amounts paid per medication fill, and more.

April 2023: Release of 2020 MEPS sample through IPUMS Health Surveys

More than 900 variables from the recently released 2020 MEPS Full-Year Consolidated file are now available through IPUMS Health Surveys, including new COVID variables.

January 2023: Release of additional 2019-2021 NHIS data through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes more than 150 additional variables from the 2019-2021 NHIS samples. These variables contain information about COVID-19, adverse childhood events, cancer screenings, and more.

October 2022: Release of 2021 NHIS sample through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes almost 500 variables from the recently released 2021 NHIS data, including nearly 30 variables related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 2022: Release of Linked Mortality File data through IPUMS Health Surveys

New linked mortality data are available from the National Center for Health Statistics 2019 update of the Linked Mortality File. These data provide information on vital status from the National Death Index for eligible participants in the NHIS from 1986-2018. This user note provides detailed information about and documentation for these variables.

June 2022: Release of additional 2019 and 2020 NHIS data through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes approximately 200 additional variables from the 2019 and 2020 NHIS samples. These variables include information on mental health, injuries, physical activity, and more. The NHIS survey design was modified in mid-2020 to account for changing response rates during the pandemic. Please see the user note for more information on the 2020 survey design and the COVID-19 variables.

May 2022: Release of MEPS medical condition and event records through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes records derived from the Medical Condition and Event files. These records include over 100 new variables collected on the MEPS since 1996. For more information, please see our overview of the event and medical conditions variables, including how those variables are offered through IPUMS MEPS, and general considerations to keep in mind when conducting analyses using these variables.

December 2021: Release of MEPS child preventive health variables through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes the full set of child preventive health variables collected on the MEPS since 2001. For more information on the child preventive health variables collected, please see LESSHLTHY. Additionally, the drop down menus on the main variable selection page were reorganized to better group variables by topic. Most notably, variables previously under Self-Administered Questionnaire have been split between the Health Status, Health Beliefs/Behaviors, and Adult Mental Health drop downs nested under General Health and Diabetes Care Survey has been renamed to Diabetes and nested under Conditions.

October 2021: Release of 2020 NHIS sample through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes almost 500 variables from the recently released 2020 NHIS data, including nearly 30 variables related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NHIS survey design was modified in mid-2020 to account for changing response rates during the pandemic. Please see the user note for more information on the survey design and the COVID-19 variables.

September 2021: Release of 2019 MEPS sample through IPUMS Health Surveys

More than 900 variables from the recently released 2019 MEPS Full-Year Consolidated file are now available through IPUMS Health Surveys.

August 2021: Release of additional 2019 NHIS data through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS NHIS now includes over 250 additional integrated variables from the 2019 NHIS data, supplementing the release of over 300 integrated variables from March 2021. As noted in the March release, please note that the 2019 NHIS underwent a substantial redesign that affects comparability with prior years. Please see our user note about the 2019 redesign for more information.

March 2021: Release of 2019 NHIS data through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS NHIS now includes over 300 integrated variables from the 2019 NHIS data released in September. Check back later this year for additional data from the 2019 NHIS. Please note that the 2019 NHIS underwent a substantial redesign that affects comparability with prior years. Please see our user note about the 2019 redesign for more information.

October 2020: Release of 2018 MEPS sample through IPUMS Health Surveys

More than 900 variables from the recently-released 2018 MEPS Full-Year Consolidated file are now available through IPUMS Health Surveys.

June 2020: Release of MEPS cancer variables through IPUMS Health Surveys

The full set of variables indicating cancer diagnosis status, age of cancer diagnosis, and cancer status for 29 different cancers are now integrated into IPUMS MEPS. For more information on the cancer variables collected, please see CNBLAD. IPUMS MEPS also now includes AGELAST, a variable indicating the respondent's age the last time they were eligible for data collection, and HINOTCOV, an indicator for respondents without health insurance.

February 2020: MEPS Diabetes Care Survey variables available through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS Health Surveys released variables covering the MEPS Diabetes Care Survey (DCS), a supplemental survey about how people with diabetes care for their diabetes. For more information on the survey and the 40 variables included, please see the DCS user note. IPUMS MEPS also now includes two variables for indicators of health insurance coverage by type: COVERTYPE and COVTYPEAGE.

September 2019: Over 900 variables from MEPS 2017 FYC

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes data from the recently released 2017 MEPS Full-Year Consolidated file. This release includes over 900 person-level annual and round-level variables covering annual expenditures, health insurance coverage, conditions, mental health, health care access, and more!

September 2019: 2018 imputed income files and supplement variables now available from IPUMS NHIS

The recently released 2018 imputed income data are now available from IPUMS NHIS. We also released over 100 variables from the 2018 NHIS supplements on cancer screening, asthma, immunizations, and disability.

July 2019: Release of 2018 NHIS data through IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS NHIS now includes over 1,300 integrated variables from the 2018 NHIS data released at the end of June. Check back in the fall for imputed income data as well as variables that are new in the 2018 NHIS or on supplemental topics. Please note that the 2018 NHIS did not include survey questions on injuries and poisonings or family disability measures previously included in the family disability section.

March 2019: Linked NHIS-NDI data updated through the 2014 survey respondents and 2015 death records

IPUMS NHIS now has linked NHIS-NDI data updated for survey respondents through 2014 and NDI records through December 31, 2015.

August 2018: Over 1,300 variables from MEPS 2016 FYC

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes data from the recently released 2016 MEPS Full-Year Consolidated file. This release includes over 1,300 person-level annual and round-level variables covering annual expenditures, health insurance coverage, conditions, mental health, health care access, and more! Additionally, this release includes new IPUMS MEPS pooled survey design and variance estimation variables (STRATAPLD and PSUPLD) and a CPI conversion factor (CPI2009).

August 2018: MEPS 2015 FYC & 300+ new variables (including round data), 2017 NHIS Imputed Income

IPUMS Health Surveys has released new data for MEPS and NHIS. The IPUMS MEPS release provides the 2015 MEPS FYC file and over 300 new variables. The newly released variables include person-level variables from the Access to Care section and the Self-Administered Questionnaire, as well as round-level variables on demographics, employment, and conditions. The recently released 2017 NHIS imputed income files are now available through IPUMS NHIS.

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July 2018: Newly released 2017 data now available!

More than 1,500 integrated variables from the 2017 NHIS data are now available from IPUMS NHIS. Check back in the fall for imputed income data as well as 2017 variables covering supplemental topics.

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April 2018: Variable display reorganization and corrected 2015 cancer family history data.

Users may notice that the IPUMS NHIS variable dropdown menus have been reorganized, with some newly added subject headings and consolidation of existing subject headings. We have implemented this first stage of variable reorganization to improve variable search and data discovery. For example, our new main variable group, "Health Insurance," divides health insurance variables into the following subgroups with straightforward and descriptive names: "General Coverage," "Coverage Timing and Continuity," "Insurance Premiums and Fees," "Reasons for No Coverage," "Plan 1 Details," "Plan 2 Details," and "Plan 3-6 Details." In addition, we have reordered variables within groups to show the most current variables at the top of each group. With this release, IPUMS NHIS also released corrected cancer family history variables from the 2015 Cancer Control module. These include variables in our "Cancer Family History" variable group, which covers the "Family Members with Cancer," "Oral, Digestive, and Respiratory Cancers," "Breast and Genitourinary Cancers," "Blood and Bone Cancers," "Skin Cancers," and "Other Types of Cancers" variable subgroups.

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February 2018: Beta version of IPUMS MEPS is live!

IPUMS Health Surveys now includes a beta version of IPUMS MEPS. IPUMS MEPS harmonizes and integrates data from the 1996-present Household Component files. In the beta version, more than 1,000 harmonized annual summary variables from the 1996-2014 full year consolidated files are available for download from IPUMS MEPS. Look for additional releases later in 2018!

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November 2017: Corrected 2016 sampling weights now available from IPUMS NHIS.

Corrected 2016 NHIS sampling weights from NCHS are now available through IPUMS NHIS. These include the final annual person weight -- PERWEIGHT, the final annual sample adult and child weight -- SAMPWEIGHT, the final annual household weight -- HHWEIGHT, the final annual family weight -- FWEIGHT, the final annual Functioning and Disability Supplement weight -- SUPP1WT, and the final annual Family Disability Supplement weight -- SUPP2WT.

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October 2017: 2016 imputed income files and supplement variables now available from IPUMS NHIS.

Imputed income files are now available through IPUMS NHIS. This release also includes over 200 additional variables from 2016 supplements on balance, diabetes, vision, and tobacco and e-cigarette use.

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July 2017: Newly released 2016 data now available!

More than 1,500 integrated variables from the 2016 NHIS data are now available from IPUMS NHIS (formerly IHIS).

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May 2017: Data from the 2015 Cancer Module now available!

Nearly 600 integrated variables from the 2015 Cancer Module are now available from IPUMS NHIS (formerly IHIS). These include variables about cancer risk factors -- tobacco use, diet, sun exposure, medication use, and cancer family history --, cancer screening, and preventive behaviors (including exercise and vitamin use).

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September 2016: Newly released 2015 data now available! Attach characteristics of other family members using family pointers, plus the release of more than 1,000 variables from historical supplements on disability, polio, youth risk behaviors, diabetes, hypertension, HMOs, AIDS, and healthcare access and utilization.

The 2015 NHIS data are now available through IHIS! This release includes nearly 1,500 variables from the 2015 sample. Look for variables from the imputed income files, the 2015 cancer supplement, and more this fall.

IHIS has now enabled the Attach Characteristics feature in our extract system. When making your extract, simply click the button when it appears in your cart and you will be presented with the option to attach the values of variables in your cart for each person's mother, father, and spouse. This feature has been made flexible enough to handle same-sex couples. As part of enabling this feature, IHIS has added person numbers of up to two mothers and two fathers (e.g., MOMLOC) and the corresponding method for assigning mother or father person number (e.g., MOMRULE). IHIS has also added summary family variables for the total number of own children (NCHILD), the total number of own children under 5 years of age (NCHLT5), the age of eldest own child (ELDCH), the age of youngest own child (YNGCH), and the number of own siblings in the household (NSIBS).

IHIS has integrated more than 1,000 additional variables from historical samples. This includes variables from the following historical supplements:

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March 2016: Release of first IHIS family pointer variables and nearly 1,000 variables from historical supplements on health insurance exchange, alcohol use, mental health, and more!

IHIS has just added spouse person number (SPLOC) and method for assigning spouse person number (SPRULE), the first of a set of expected Family Pointer variables, that define family relationships between household members.

IHIS has integrated nearly 1,000 additional variables from historical samples. This includes the new health insurance exchange variables from the 2014 sample and Adult Selected Items variables from the 2013 and 2014 samples covering topics like sleep quality, worries about money, neighborhood characteristics, and satisfaction with health care. Other historical supplements newly available from the IHIS database:

September 2015: New data-2014 imputed income files, updated 2014 injury files, 2004-2010 corrected child birth weights, 500+ variables from historical supplements including immunization data

IHIS has integrated the 2014 imputed income files and the re-released 2014 injury/poisoning file from NCHS. The re-released injury/poisoning data now include ICD-9 and external cause codes AND changes to other variables affecting frequencies; these changes to episode-level data cascade to affect person-level variables. Users who created an extract using 2014 person-level or episode-level injury data prior to September 23, 2015 should be advised that the data have changed and the current IHIS version reflects the most recent NCHS release of the injury/poisoning episode file released on September 9, 2015.

The release also includes NHIS-corrected birth weight files for sample children in 2004-2010. 2014 survey text is now available, allowing users to easily access the original survey questions associated with integrated IHIS variables. Variables from the following historical supplements are now included in the IHIS database:

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July 2015: Newly released 2014 data now available!

IHIS now offers most variables from the 2014 NHIS, including measures of health care access, health behaviors, disability and conditions, core demographics, injury and poisoning episodes, and socioeconomic indicators.

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June 2015: 1986-2009 linked mortality files now available through IHIS. Harmonized industry and occupation variables added.

IHIS now includes the updated mortality files. Variables from these files allow users to link 1986-2009 integrated NHIS survey data with death certificate information from the National Death Index through December 2011. Combining these two data sources allows for statistical analyses of the relationship between mortality and the rich array of socio-demographic characteristics, health factors, and health care access information available in the NHIS data.

Additionally, the release offers newly IHIS created industry and occupation variables harmonized from 1969 to the present, allowing IHIS users to make comparisons of consistent categories over time. The original detailed industry and occupation codes are also now available in the same variables over time (IND and OCC), making it easier for users to include all relevant information in their extracts. For more information, please see the IHIS user note on how the industry and occupation variables were constructed.

The release also integrates the 1997-1999 injury and poisoning records and historical supplements for hearing, vision, asthma, unintentional injuries, as well as pregnancy and smoking.

IHIS is also debuting its data brief series, a set of concise research reports that highlight unique aspects of the IHIS database and interesting research topics that can be investigated using the data. Brief 01: Multigenerational Families and Food Insecurity in the United States, 1998-2013.

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April 2015: Release of historic 1990-1996 imputed income files, and over 2000 fully integrated CAM variables from 2012

The release also introduces imputed income data for 1990-1996. While these differ in structure from the 1997-forward imputed income files, they can be used to fill in missing income data for all persons in the 1990-1996 samples. Over 2000 variables from the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) supplements for sample adults and sample children have been fully integrated into the IHIS data for the 2012 sample. A change in the structure of the CAM questionnaire makes it difficult to compare original NHIS CAM data from 2012 with previous samples; the newly released IHIS data include the original variables released by NHIS in 2012 as well as variables constructed through special programming that are comparable to CAM variables released by the NHIS in previous years to allow for easier analysis of these variables over time. The release also includes a series of variables rom the 2002 survey on barriers to community participation. Finally, historic child development and child medication variables from the 1981 child health supplement are now available through the IHIS.

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March 2015: Release of remaining 2013 supplements, historic AIDS testing variables, full documentation on all variables, and NHIS linking keys

The 2013 supplements not included in the October 2014 IHIS data release have been integrated. These include 2013 variables on asthma, cancer screening, health care access and utilization, disability, epilepsy, food security, heart disease and stroke prevention, hepatitis, immunization, immunosuppression, internet access and email usage, mental health, mental health services, and tobacco. IHIS is also releasing a series of historic variables with information about HIV/AIDS testing; these include variables on reasons for being tested, reasons for not being tested, locations of testing, information about testing, and discussion of test results. Additionally, this release provides full documentation for an additional 1,250 variables on topics including exercise, weight control, chronic mental illness, colon cancer testing, insurance, public health service tests, quitting smoking, mammograms, Pap testing, hypertension, income, and HIV/AIDS information and testing. All integrated IHIS variables now have full documentation, including a description of the variable, an overview of the codes, universe information, and a discussion about comparability of the variable over time. Survey text is now available for integrated 2012 and 2013 IHIS variables. Additionally, the original NHIS person-level linking keys (HHX, FMX, and PX) for the 1997-forward samples and day of interview (INTERVWDAY) for the 1970-1996 samples are now available.

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October 2014: New data release includes injury-level records and 2013 imputed income records

The latest IHIS data release includes injury-level records available through hierarchical extracts, as well as imputed income variables for 2013, and full documentation for an additional 1250 variables. Check back for the release of additional 2013 data later this year.

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July 2014: New data release includes most variables from the newly released 2013 data

The latest IHIS data release includes most variables from the newly released 2013 data, including measures of health care access, health behaviors, disability and conditions, core demographics, and socioeconomic indicators. Check back for the release of additional 2013 data later this year.

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June 2014: New data release includes 2000-2012 injury and poisoning records, and streamlined food frequency variables

The latest IHIS data release includes data from the 2000-2012 injury and poisoning episode files. IHIS has created person-level variables that are harmonized with person-level injury variables available in 1997-1999. These variables are now available through the IHIS data extract system.

IHIS has revised the extensive list of food frequency variables and is releasing new food frequency variables that allow for greater comparability across samples. For more details on these changes, see the new IHIS Revisions and Errata web page. The Revisions and Errata page allows users to track changes and improvements to IHIS data by noting changes to the data including new and updated variables, eliminated variables, and any corrections.

Additionally, this data release provides updated variable-level information pages for an additional 1,000 existing variables. Topics covered by these fully documented variables include: breast exams, child schooling, cancer knowledge, diabetes, firearms, food knowledge, health information sources, radon, and vaccinations.

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Jan 2014: More new data released for 2012

The latest IHIS data release added approximately 600 variables, including new variables for the 2012 supplements. New or expanded supplements in 2012 that are now part of IHIS include: child balance; complementary and alternative medicine; enhanced questions on health care access and utilization; food security, child mental health and mental health services; tobacco; voice, speech, and language; heart disease and stroke prevention; as well as internet and email usage. IHIS has also provided new or updated variable-level information pages for an additional 500 existing variables.

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Sept 2013: New data released for 2012, imputed income, other topics

The latest IHIS data release has added variables from the 2012 NHIS sample, including the imputed income variables. The 2012 survey continues to include variables used to monitor the Affordable Care Act (see brief at user note for more information on these variables).

In 2012, the NHIS included a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Supplement for sample adults and sample children. This collected information for all sample children age 4 and over and sample adults age 18 and over on their use of and payment for 18 kinds of CAM. Information includes recency of use (in the past 12 months), frequency of use, and insurance coverage and out-of-pocket and additional expenses related to CAM. While these questions are similar to the CAM Supplements that were fielded in 2002 (sample adults only) and 2007, not all content is comparable to earlier versions. The 2012 survey also included new questions on CAM in quarters two through four. This data release provides a subset of the 2012 CAM variables and the remainder will be made available in a future data release.

This data release also contains the Child and Adult Disability questions, first included for half the sample persons in the 2010 Quality of Life Supplement and continued in the 2011 Adult Functioning and Disability Supplement. In 2012, several new questions were added to the disability file Functioning and Disability (AFD) section that are similar to the 2010 and 2011 variables, but have minor changes in the universe. These new variables, reflecting the different contexts or universes relative to 2011 and 2010, are forthcoming.

In addition, other new variables from the 2012 NHIS are forthcoming. These include questions from the Adult and Child Voice, Speech and Language Supplements, the Child Balance Supplement, the Adult Internet and Email Usage Section, six new supplemental questions on the use of tobacco products other than cigarettes, and two new supplemental questions about flu shots before, during, or after pregnancy.

IHIS also has provided new or updated variable-level information pages for existing variables collected in various years between 1970 and 2012.

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Feb 2012: Remaining 2011 data released, Monitoring the ACA, Pre-1997 conditions variables released, Imputed income variables released

The latest IHIS data release has added the remaining 2011 data that was not released by IHIS in August 2012. New topics covered in 2011 include service in the armed forces; reasons for not having a usual source of care; steps taken in the past year to save money on medical care; most recent ER visit; last health care visit; long-term care insurance; health insurance coverage in the past 3 years; and treatment of children's mental health.

Beginning with the 2011 NHIS, around 85 new questions were added to the NHIS that were designed to monitor the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). IHIS has created a user note on these variables, and SHADAC has released a brief on the variables.

IHIS now makes it much easier to work with the pre-1997 "condition records." Before 1997, information about health conditions was collected in the form on many-to-one condition records. This data structure made it difficult to analyze the condition records in concert with othere IHIS/NHIS data that treat the person or household as the unit of analysis. IHIS staff have solved this problem by converting the pre-1997 condition records into person-level data. Users can now analyze chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and breast cancer over a longer time series than was previously available. For more information, consult the IHIS user note.

The IHIS staff has created new variables that reflect the ratio of imputed income to the federal poverty guidelines. (Note: The federal poverty guidelines are different from the federal poverty thresholds. See here for information on the difference.) These variables (POVIMPHHS1 through POVIMPHHS5) cover 2009-2011 and are constructed from imputed point estimates of income. Users should refer to the variable descriptions for these variables for links to NHIS documentation on appropriate use of variables with imputed data.

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Aug 2012: New data released for 2011, imputed income, other topics

The latest IHIS data release has added data from 2011. New variable groups include health care access and utilization, food security, functioning and disability, and fitness center use.

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Mar 2012: New Insurance Variables Available

IHIS now includes new summary insurance variables, indicating the type of coverage, the features of private plans, and the reasons for not having coverage, that are consistently coded for the 1980s to the present. Two new user notes, on changes in insurance data collection and the shifting definition of private insurance, are also now available, along with hundreds of other variables addressing various aspects of insurance coverage.

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Oct 2011: SAMPWEIGHT problem fixed

The variable SAMPWEIGHT is once again supplying the correct values.

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Oct 2011: New data released for 1963 to 2010

The lastest IHIS data release has added data from 2010, includes material from the historical public use files from 1963 to 1968, and brings the number of integrated variables available through IHIS to approximately 12,000.

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Jan 2011: Online tabulator now available

Users can now analyze IHIS data online, using high-speed tabulation software developed at UC-Berkeley. The online tabulator is especially useful for creating frequency and cross-tabulation tables, calculating means, and significance testing. Experienced data users may wish to use the tabulator to get quick or preliminary results before downloading a dataset. Users who do not have experience using a statistical package can now answer simple research questions by creating tables online. In introductory classes on statistics or public health, students can use the tabulator to formulate and test hypotheses about public health trends and differentials, getting results within seconds. A detailed user note provides explanations and examples of how to analyze IHIS data on-line.

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Nov 5 2010: New data released on herbs, vitamins, other topics

The latest IHIS data release increased the number of variables to over 7000. New variable groups include adult and child use of vitamins and herbs, falls and balance problems, hearing and vision problems, and use of aids to mobility. Also newly available is a weight (MORTWTSA) suitable for use with variables from the sample adult files in conjunction with variables on survey participants' mortality and cause of death.

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Aug 16 2010: New data released for 1969-2009

The latest IHIS data release added data from 2007, 2008, and 2009 and increased the number of variables to over 5000. New variable groups include adult and child mental health, cancer family history, use of complementary and alternative medicine, health knowledge, adult leisure-time physical activity, imputed income and earnings, HPV immunization, and mortality and cause of death of survey participants.

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Aug 16 2010: BMICALC and linking keys corrected

The BMICALC (IHIS-calculated Body Mass Index), which was created by programming, initially included some incorrect values for 1982-1995 due to an error in the programming statements. Respondents with unknown values for height were included in the BMI calculation, which yielded artificially low values. The version of BMICALC available as of August 16, 2010 no longer includes those incorrect values. Researchers who used the BMICALC variable for 1982-1995 prior to August 16, 2010 should redo their analyses using the corrected version of the variable.

The original versions of the linking key variables NHISPID (for person-level variables) and NHISHID (for household-level variables) were incorrect. A coding fix for NHISPID was posted in IHIS news on January 27, 2009. The versions of NHISPID and NHISHID available as of August 16, 2010 are correct, and the coding fix is no longer needed.

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Jan 27 2009: Linking key data problems

REVISED: Feb 20, 2009. The linking key variables NHISPID (for person level variables) and NHISHID (for household level variables) in the IHIS extract system are currently incorrect. We have identified and corrected the problem. However, the corrected NHISPID and NHISHID variables will not be available until the next IHIS data update.

In the interim, a simple coding fix for NHISPID can be implemented by users in their own IHIS data. For Stata users, adapt the following code for the years in your IHIS extract:

gen str16 test = "002006" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 2006
  replace test = "002005" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 2005
  replace test = "002004" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 2004
  replace test = "002003" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 2003
  replace test = "002002" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 2002
  replace test = "002001" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 2001
  replace test = "002000" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 2000
  replace test = "001999" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 1999
  replace test = "001998" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 1998
  replace test = "001997" + substr(nhispid,7,10) if year == 1997
  replace test = "1996" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1996
  replace test = "1995" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1995
  replace test = "1994" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1994
  replace test = "1993" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1993

  replace test = "1992" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1992 & hispoversamp !=1
  replace test = "1991" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1992 & hispoversamp ==1
  replace test = "1991" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1991
  replace test = "1990" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1990
  replace test = "1989" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1989
  replace test = "1988" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1988
  replace test = "1987" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1987
  replace test = "1986" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1986
  replace test = "1985" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1985
  replace test = "1984" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1984
  replace test = "1983" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1983
  replace test = "1982" + substr(nhispid,5,12) if year == 1982

rename nhispid pidbad
rename test nhispid
sort nhispid

For SAS users, adapt the following code for the years in your IHIS extract:

data data2;
set data1;
format test $16.;
  if year=2006 then test="002006"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=2005 then test="002005"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=2004 then test="002004"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=2003 then test="002003"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=2002 then test="002002"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=2001 then test="002001"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=2000 then test="002000"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=1999 then test="001999"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=1998 then test="001998"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=1997 then test="001997"||substr(nhispid,7,10);
  if year=1996 then test="1996"||substr(nhispid,5,12);
  if year=1995 then test="1995"||substr(nhispid,5,12);
  if year=1994 then test="1994"||substr(nhispid,5,12);
  if year=1993 then test="1993"||substr(nhispid,5,12);
rename
  nhispid=pidbad
  test=nhispid;
run;

For additional information about merging variables from the original NHIS public use data files to IHIS data, please see the user note on merging.

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Dec 15 2008: Linking syntax file updates

Stata and SAS syntax files for merging variables from the original NHIS public use data files to IHIS data are being revised. Syntax files for 1969 to 1981 are currently unavailable.

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Nov 2008: New Variables Coming Soon

In the next couple of weeks, new variables will begin to be added to the IHIS system. This will include new variables from the NHIS 2007 data released this summer, mortality variables from the NHIS-Linked Mortality Files, cancer screening, and cancer family history variables. We will also extend many of the current IHIS variables back in time.

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Oct 2008: IHIS Updates Website

On October 15 2008, IHIS introduced a new look to its website. This upgrade also included a significant redesign of the variable browsing and data extraction system. IHIS users now have more control over how they view the variables available, and they can now select variables from any point in the documentation system. The data extraction system also gives users more flexibility in how they select the years of data and variables they want to download.

Further information about the new browsing and data extraction options, in addition to general aspects of the data series, are available on the FAQ page.

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