Early Release of Selected Estimates Based on Data From the January-March 2008 National Health Interview Survey

In this release, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) updates estimates for 15 selected health measures based on data from the January-March 2008 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and presents estimates from 1997 through 2007 for comparison. The 15 Early Release measures are being published prior to final data editing and final weighting to provide access to the most recent information from NHIS. The estimates will be updated on a quarterly basis as each new quarter of the NHIS data becomes available. Two additional reports are published via the Early Release Program. Health insurance coverage: Early release of estimates from the National Health Interview Survey (1) is published quarterly and provides additional estimates of health insurance coverage. Wireless substitution: Early release of estimates from the National Health Interview Survey (2) is published in May and December and provides selected estimates of telephone coverage.

The 15 measures included are lack of health insurance coverage and type of coverage, usual place to go for medical care, obtaining needed medical care, receipt of influenza vaccination, receipt of pneumococcal vaccination, obesity, leisure-time physical activity, current smoking, alcohol consumption, human immunodeficiency virus testing, general health status, personal care needs, serious psychological distress, diagnosed diabetes, and asthma episodes and current asthma.

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