Disability and Health Data System (DHDS) Data Guide General Health Conditions
Fallen in Past 12 Months
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System respondents 45 years of age or older were asked*, “In the past 12 months, how many times have you fallen?” Respondents who reported falling at least once during the past 12 months were defined as Yes.
*Respondents were told to consider a fall as “when a person unintentionally comes to rest on the ground or another lower level.”
Fallen in Past 12 Months data available: 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Defined based on
Communication with the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)
Fair or Poor Self-Rated Health
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System respondents were asked, “Would you say that in general your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?” Responses were grouped into two categories: Yes and No. Respondents who reported fair or poor health were defined as Yes.
Fair or Poor Self-Rated Health data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Defined based on
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surveillance of certain health behaviors and conditions among states and selected local areas―Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), United States, 2006. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2008;57(No. SS-7):2–3, 11.
Physically Unhealthy Days in Past 30 Days
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System respondents were asked, “Now thinking about your physical health, which includes physical illness and injury, for how many days during the past 30 days was your physical health not good?” Responses were grouped into three categories: None, 1-13 Days, and 14+ Days.
Physically Unhealthy Days in Past 30 Days data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Related Indicators: Mentally Unhealthy Days in Past 30 Days
Defined based on
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health-related quality of life surveillance—United States, 1993–2002. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2005;54(No. SS-4):2–3, 14.
Ever Had Heart Disease
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System respondents were asked, “Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional EVER told you that you had a heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction?” and “Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional EVER told you that you had angina or coronary heart disease?” Responses were grouped into two categories: Yes and No. Respondents who reported ever having had a heart attack or ever having had angina or coronary heart disease were defined as Yes.
Ever Had Heart Disease data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Related Indicators: Ever Had a Stroke
Defined based on
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of heart disease―United States, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2007;56:113–8.
Ever Had High Blood Pressure
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System respondents were asked, “Have you EVER been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have high blood pressure?” Responses were grouped into two categories: Yes and No. Respondents who reported no high blood pressure, borderline high blood pressure or pre-hypertensive or elevated blood pressure, and females who reported having had high blood pressure only during pregnancy were defined as No.
Ever Had High Blood Pressure data available: 2017, 2019, and 2021.
Related Indicators: Taking Medicine for High Blood Pressure
Defined based on
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of actions to control high blood pressure―20 states, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2007;56:420–3.
Taking Medicine for High Blood Pressure
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System respondents who reported having had high blood pressure were asked, “Are you currently taking medicine for your high blood pressure?” Responses were grouped into two categories: Yes and No.
Analyses excluded respondents who did not report high blood pressure.
Taking Medicine for High Blood Pressure data available: 2017, 2019, and 2021.
Related Indicators: Ever Had High Blood Pressure
Defined based on
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of actions to control high blood pressure―20 states, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2007;56:420–3.
Ever Had High Cholesterol
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System respondents who were asked, “Have you EVER been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that your cholesterol is high?” Responses were grouped into two categories: Yes and No.
Analyses excluded respondents younger than 20 years of age.
Ever Had High Cholesterol data available: 2017, 2019, and 2021.
Defined based on
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in cholesterol screening and awareness of high blood cholesterol―United States, 1991-2003. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2005;54:865–70.
Hours of Sleep in 24-hour Period
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System respondents were asked, “On average, how many hours of sleep do you get in a 24-hour period?” Responses were grouped into three categories: 1-6 hours, 7-9 hours, and 10+ hours.
Hours of Sleep in 24-hour Period data available: 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Defined based on
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. QuickStats: sleep duration among adults aged ≥20 years, by race/ethnicity―National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2007-2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013;62:755.
