Indicator Definitions: Risk Factors
Hypertension
Prevalence of hypertension among US adults (18+); BRFSS
Measure: Self-report: “Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have high blood pressure? (If “Yes” and respondent is female, “Was this only when you were pregnant?”). Excludes gestational hypertension. Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” to the question “”Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have high blood pressure?” Excludes women who reported gestational hypertension only. Denominator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” or “no” to the question “”Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have high blood pressure?”
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BRFSS)
Prevalence of hypertension medication use among US adults (18+) with hypertension; BRFSS
Measure: Self-report: “Are you currently taking medicine for your high blood pressure?” Excludes gestational hypertension. Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” to the question “Are you currently taking medicine for your high blood pressure?” Denominator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” to the question “”Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have high blood pressure?” Excludes women who reported gestational hypertension only.
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BRFSS)
Prevalence of hypertension (BP ≥140/90) among US adults (18+); NHANES
Measure: Measured blood pressure: based on the average of up to 3 measurements taken during the MEC examination. Self-report: “Because of your (high blood pressure/hypertension), have you ever been told to take prescribed medicine?” and “Are you now taking prescribed medicine?” Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with an average systolic BP>=140 mmHg, an average diastolic BP >=90 mmHg, or self-reported current use of BP-lowering medication. Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with at least 1 complete BP measurement and self-reported BP-lowering medication use information.
Prevalence of hypertension awareness among US adults (18+) with hypertension (BP ≥140/90); NHANES
Measure: Self-report: “Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had hypertension, also called high blood pressure?” Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension who answered “yes” to the question “Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had hypertension, also called high blood pressure?” Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension, defined as an average systolic BP>=140 mmHg, an average diastolic BP >=90 mmHg, or self-reported current use of BP-lowering medication.
Prevalence of hypertension medication use among US adults (18+) with hypertension (BP ≥140/90); NHANES
Measure: Self-report: “Because of your (high blood pressure/hypertension), have you ever been told to take prescribed medicine?” and “Are you now taking prescribed medicine?” Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension who answered “yes” to the questions “Because of your (high blood pressure/hypertension), have you ever been told to take prescribed medicine?” and “Are you now taking prescribed medicine?” Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension, defined as an average systolic BP>=130 mmHg, an average diastolic BP>=80 mmHg, or self-reported current use of BP-lowering medication.
Prevalence of blood pressure control among US adults (18+) with hypertension (BP ≥140/90); NHANES
Measure: Measured blood pressure: based on the average of up to 3 measurements taken during the MEC examination. Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with an average systolic BP<140 mmHg and an average diastolic BP <90 mmHg. Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension, defined as an average systolic BP>=140 mmHg, an average diastolic BP >=90 mmHg, or self-reported current use of BP-lowering medication.
Prevalence of prehypertension (BP 130/80-139/89) among US adults (18+); NHANES
Measure: Measured blood pressure: based on the average of up to 3 measurements taken during the MEC examination. Self-report: “Because of your (high blood pressure/hypertension), have you ever been told to take prescribed medicine?” and “Are you now taking prescribed medicine?” Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with an average systolic BP 120-139 mmHg or an average diastolic BP 80-89 mmHg and no self-reported use of BP-lowering medication. Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with at least 1 complete BP measurement and self-reported BP-lowering medication use information.
Prevalence of hypertension (BP ≥130/90) among US adults (18+); NHANES
Measure: Measured blood pressure: based on the average of up to 3 measurements taken during the MEC examination. Self-report: “Because of your (high blood pressure/hypertension), have you ever been told to take prescribed medicine?” and “Are you now taking prescribed medicine?” Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with an average systolic BP>=130 mmHg, an average diastolic BP >=80 mmHg, or self-reported current use of BP-lowering medication. Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with at least 1 complete BP measurement and self-reported BP-lowering medication use information.
Prevalence of hypertension awareness among US adults (18+) with hypertension (BP ≥130/90); NHANES
Measure: Self-report: “Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had hypertension, also called high blood pressure?” Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension who answered “yes” to the question “Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had hypertension, also called high blood pressure?” Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension, defined as an average systolic BP>=130 mmHg, an average diastolic BP >=80 mmHg, or self-reported current use of BP-lowering medication.
Prevalence of hypertension medication use among US adults (18+) with hypertension (BP ≥130/90); NHANES
Measure: Self-report: “Because of your (high blood pressure/hypertension), have you ever been told to take prescribed medicine?” and “Are you now taking prescribed medicine?” Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension who answered “yes” to the questions “Because of your (high blood pressure/hypertension), have you ever been told to take prescribed medicine?” and “Are you now taking prescribed medicine?” Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension, defined as an average systolic BP>=130 mmHg, an average diastolic BP >=80 mmHg, or self-reported current use of BP-lowering medication.
Prevalence of blood pressure control among US adults (18+) with hypertension (BP ≥130/90); NHANES
Measure: Measured blood pressure: based on the average of up to 3 measurements taken during the MEC examination. Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with an average systolic BP<130 mmHg and an average diastolic BP <80 mmHg. Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with hypertension, defined as an average systolic BP>=130 mmHg, an average diastolic BP >=80 mmHg, or self-reported current use of BP-lowering medication.
Prevalence of prehypertension (BP 120/80 – 129/80) among US adults (18+); NHANES
Measure: Measured blood pressure: based on the average of up to 3 measurements taken during the MEC examination. Self-report: “Because of your (high blood pressure/hypertension), have you ever been told to take prescribed medicine?” and “Are you now taking prescribed medicine?” Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with an average systolic BP 120-129 mmHg and an average diastolic BP <80 mmHg and no self-reported use of BP-lowering medication. Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with at least 1 complete BP measurement and self-reported BP-lowering medication use information.
Prevalence of hypertension among US children/adolescents (8-17); NHANES
Measure: Measured blood pressure: based on the average of up to 3 measurements taken during the MEC examination. Numerator: Children/adolescents aged 8-12 years with an average systolic or diastolic BP >= 95th sex-age-height specific percentile and children/adolescents aged 13-17 years with an average systolic BP >=130 or an average diastolic BP >=80 mmHg. Denominator: Children/adolescents (8-17 years) with at least 1 complete BP measurement.
Prevalence of self-reported hypertension among US adults (18+); NHIS
Measure: Self-report: “Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had hypertension, also called high blood pressure?” Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” to the question “Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had hypertension, also called high blood pressure?” Denominator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” or “no” to the question “Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had hypertension, also called high blood pressure?”
Prevalence of hypertension medication use among US adults (18+) with self-reported hypertension; NHIS
“Measure: Self-report: “”Are you NOW taking any medication prescribed by a doctor for your high blood pressure?”” Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” to the question: “Are you NOW taking any medication prescribed by a doctor for your high blood pressure?” Denominator: Adults (18+) with self-reported hypertension who answered “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are you NOW taking any medication prescribed by a doctor for your high blood pressure?”
Cholesterol Abnormalities
Prevalence of cholesterol screening in the past 5 years among US adults (20+); BRFSS
Measure: Self-report: “Blood cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. Have you EVER had your blood cholesterol checked?” and “About how long has it been since you last had your blood cholesterol checked?”. Numerator: Adults (20+) who reported having had their cholesterol checked within the past year, within the past 2 years, or within the past 5 years. Denominator: Adults (20+) who had and had not had their cholesterol checked within the past 5 years. Excludes unknowns and refusals.
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BRFSS)
Prevalence of high total cholesterol among US adults (20+); BRFSS
Measure: Self-report: “Blood cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. Have you EVER had your blood cholesterol checked?” and “Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that your blood cholesterol is high?” Numerator: Adults (20+) who answered “yes” to the question “Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that your blood cholesterol is high?” Denominator: Adults (20+) who answered “yes” to the question “Blood cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. Have you EVER had your blood cholesterol checked?” and answered “yes” or “no” to the question “Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that your blood cholesterol is high?”
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BRFSS)
Prevalence of severe hypercholesterolemia (LDL-C ≥190) among US adults (20+); NHANES
Measure: Fasting serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (mg/dL) Numerator: Fasting serum LDL-c >=190 mg/dL Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (20+) with complete serum total cholesterol.
Mean serum HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol among US adults (20+); NHANES
Measure: Fasting serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (mg/dL) Numerator: mean serum HDL-c (mg/dL) Denominator: Fasting non-pregnant adults (20+) with complete serum HDL-c.
Mean serum triglycerides among US adults (20+); NHANES
Measure: Fasting serum triglycerides (mg/dL) Numerator: Fasting serum triglycerides >=200 mg/dL Denominator: Fasting non-pregnant adults (20+) with complete serum triglycerides.
Prevalence of cholesterol screening in the past 5 years among US adults (20+); NHANES
Measure: Self-report: “Have you ever had your blood cholesterol checked?” and “About how long has it been since you had your cholesterol checked?” Numerator: Adults (20+) who answered “yes” to the question “Have you ever had your blood cholesterol checked?” and answered, “Less than 1 year ago”, “1 year but less than 2 years ago”, or “2 years but less than 5 years ago” to the question “About how long has it been since you had your cholesterol checked?” Denominator: Adults (20+) with complete and valid answers to the cholesterol screening questions.
Mean serum total cholesterol among US adults (20+); NHANES
Measure: Serum total cholesterol (mg/dL) Numerator: Mean serum total cholesterol (mg/dL) Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (20+) with complete serum total cholesterol.
Mean serum total cholesterol among US children/adolescents (12-19); NHANES
Measure: Serum total cholesterol (mg/dL) Numerator: Mean serum total cholesterol (mg/dL) Denominator: Children/adolescents (12-19) with complete serum total cholesterol.
Diabetes
Prevalence of diabetes among US adults (18+); BRFSS
Measure: Self-report: “Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes?” (If “Yes” and respondent is female, ask “Was this only when you were pregnant?” Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” to the question “Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes?” Excludes women who reported gestational diabetes only. Denominator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” or “no” to the question “Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes?” Excludes women who reported gestational diabetes only. Definition of no diabetes <2004 include “No” or “Yes, but female only during pregnancy”; 2004+ includes answers of “No”, “No, pre-diabetes or borderline diabetes”, or “Yes, but female only during pregnancy”.
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BRFSS)
Prevalence of diabetes among US adults (18+); NHANES
Measure: Diagnosed diabetes, based on self-report: “Have you ever been told by a doctor or health professional that you have diabetes or sugar diabetes?” or “Are you now taking insulin” or “Are you now taking diabetic pills to lower your blood sugar?”. Undiagnosed diabetes, based on fasting plasma glucose >125 mg/dL or glycated hemoglobin (hbA1c or A1c) >=6.5%. Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes. Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (18+) with complete data on diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes.
Nutrition
Prevalence of consuming fruits and vegetables less than 5 times per day among US adults (18+); BRFSS
Measure: Self report: “During the past month, how often did you…”eat fruit (not including juices)?”; “drink 100% fruit juice?”; “eat a green leafy or lettuce salad?”; “eat any other kind of potatoes (except fried potatoes)?”; “Not including lettuce salads and potatoes, eat other vegetables?” Numerator: Adults (18+) who reported eating fruits and vegetables <5 times/day (Sum of responses to all questions). Denominator: Adults (18+) who answered times per day, times per week, or times per month on at least 4 of 5 fruit and vegetable questions.
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BRFSS)
Mean dietary sodium intake (mg/day) among US adults (18+); NHANES
Measure: Total dietary sodium intake (mg/day), based on the day 1 24-hour dietary recall. Numerator: Mean total dietary sodium intake (mg/day) Denominator: Adults (18+) with a complete and reliable day 1 24-hour dietary recall.
Mean dietary sodium intake among US children/adolescents (2-17); NHANES
Measure: Total dietary sodium intake (mg/day), based on the day 1 24-hour dietary recall. Numerator: Mean total dietary sodium intake (mg/day) Denominator: Children/adolescents (2-17) with a complete and reliable day 1 24-hour dietary recall.
Obesity
Prevalence of obesity among US adults (20+); BRFSS
Measure: Self-reported weight and height: “About how much do you weigh without shoes?” and “About how tall are you without shoes?” Body mass index (BMI) = [weight (kg) / height (m)^2] Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (20+) with a calculated body mass index (BMI) >=30.0. Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (20+) with complete weight and height data and self-reported weight <500 lbs. Excludes unknowns and refusals.
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BRFSS)
Prevalence of obesity among US adults (20+); NHANES
Measure: Measured weight and height: Body mass index (BMI) = [weight (kg) / height (m)^2] Numerator: Non-pregnant adults (20+) with body mass index (BMI) >=30.0. Denominator: Non-pregnant adults (20+) with complete weight and height data.
Prevalence of obesity among US children/adolescents (2-19); NHANES
Measure: Measured weight and height: Body mass index (BMI) = [weight (kg) / height (m)^2] Numerator: Children/adolescents (2-19) with body mass index (BMI) >= sex/height specific 95th percentile Denominator: children/adolescents (2-19) with complete weight and height data.
Physical Inactivity
Prevalence of physical inactivity among US adults (18+); BRFSS
Measure: Self-report: “During the past month, other than your regular job, did you participate in any physical activities or exercises such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?” Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered “no” to the question “During the past month, other than your regular job, did you participate in any physical activities or exercises such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?” Denominator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” or “no” to the question “During the past month, other than your regular job, did you participate in any physical activities or exercises such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?”
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BRFSS)
Prevalence of physical inactivity among US adults (18+); NHIS
Measure: Self-report: “How often do you do MODERATE-INTENSITY LEISURE-TIME physical activities?”; “How often do you do VIGOROUS-INTENSITY LEISURE-TIME physical activities?”; “How often do you do LEISURETIME physical activities specifically designed to STRENGTHEN your muscles such as sit-ups, push-ups, or lifting weights?” Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered none or “unable to do activity” to the questions: “How often do you do MODERATE-INTENSITY LEISURE-TIME physical activities?”; “How often do you do VIGOROUS-INTENSITY LEISURE-TIME physical activities?”; “How often do you do LEISURETIME physical activities specifically designed to STRENGTHEN your muscles such as sit-ups, push-ups, or lifting weights?” Denominator: Adults (18+) who answered a range of values or “unable to do activity” to any of the questions: “How often do you do MODERATE-INTENSITY LEISURE-TIME physical activities?”; “How often do you do VIGOROUS-INTENSITY LEISURE-TIME physical activities?”; “How often do you do LEISURETIME physical activities specifically designed to STRENGTHEN your muscles such as sit-ups, push-ups, or lifting weights?”
Smoking
Prevalence of current smoking among US adults (18+); BRFSS
Measure: Self-report: “Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life?” and “Do you now smoke cigarettes every day, some days, or not at all?” Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” to the question “Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life?” and answered, “Every day” or “Some days” to the question “Do you now smoke cigarettes every day, some days, or not at all?” Denominator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” or “no” to the question “Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life?” and answered, “Every day”, “Some days”, or “Not at all” to the question “Do you now smoke cigarettes every day, some days, or not at all?”
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BRFSS)
Prevalence of current smoking among US adults (20+); NHANES
Measure: Self-report: “Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life?” and “Do you now smoke cigarettes?”; or measured serum cotinine (ng/mL). Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered “yes” to the question “Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life?” and answered, “every day” or “some days” to the question “Do you now smoke cigarettes?” or had a measured serum cotinine level >=10 ng/dL. Denominator: Adults (18+) with complete information on self-reported smoking or measured serum cotinine.
Prevalence of current smoking among adults (18+); NHIS
Measure: Self-report: “Do you NOW smoke cigarettes every day, some days or not at all?” Numerator: Adults (18+) who answered, “every day” or “some days” to the question: “Do you NOW smoke cigarettes every day, some days or not at all?” Denominator: Adults (18+) who answered, “every day,” “some days,” or “not at all” to the question: “Do you NOW smoke cigarettes every day, some days or not at all?”
