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Public-Use Epidemiologic Databases

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
NHANES was designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States began in the early 1960s. The surveys combine interviews and physical examinations and examines a nationally representative sample of about 5,000 persons each year. NHANES is linked with mortality data to enable the opportunity of prospective analysis. The p ublic-use file (link) includes a limited set of mortality variables; the restricted-use file includes more detailed mortality information.
JHU/UMB publications

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
NIHS includes continuing annual cross-sectional interview surveys of the civilian non-institutionalized U.S. population. The survey contents were updated about every 10-15 years. The NHIS data are linked to mortality and Medicare data to provide opportunities of conducting prospective analysis.
JHU/UMB publications

The National Health Care Surveys (NHCS)
The National Health Care Surveys are a family of provider-based surveys designed to meet the need for objective, reliable information about the organizations and providers that supply health care, the services rendered, and the patients they serve. Each one of the NHCS collects core information which remains stable over time. Trends in the types of care delivered in each setting can be monitored reliably. The NHCS databases include:
National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)
National Hospital Ambulatory Hospital Medical Survey (NHAMCS)
National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery (NSAS)
National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS)
National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS)
National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS)


Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
BRFSS was established in 1984 by the CDC to provide State-based system of health surveys that collects information on health risk behaviors, preventive health practices, and health care access primarily related to chronic disease and injury. More than 350,000 adults are interviewed each year; which makes BRFSS the largest telephone health survey in the world.
JHU/UMB publications