Health Data Interactive

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. What is Health Data Interactive?
2. How can I use Health Data Interactive data?
3. How do I use the Health Data Interactive tables?
4. What's the difference between the online tables and the downloaded versions?
5. Should I install the Beyond 20/20 software?
6. Can I access the data using a Macintosh computer?
7. Are there data for States?
8. Are there data by County?
9. Do you have data on forecasts for the future?
10. Do you have data from other countries?
11. Where can I find information about the sources of the data?
12. Are the tables linked to micro-data?
13. How should I cite your Website?
14. What if I still have questions or comments?

 

1. What is Health Data Interactive?

Health Data Interactive (HDI) is an informative website presenting a broad range of important public health indicators through an interactive web-based application providing access to pre-tabulated national data.  HDI provides interactive access to a broad set of key public health statistics.  The primary objective is to provide national estimates of public health measures cross tabulated by a common set of variables.  A secondary objective is to educate users about the data and data systems available from NCHS.

 

2. How can I use Health Data Interactive data?

You can explore trends in major health indicators by age, sex, race and ethnicity, and so forth. You can answer questions such as:  Are there differences in health among racial and ethnic groups and are the differences becoming larger?  What are the main reasons for hospitalization among persons 65 years old and over?  What is the prevalence of asthma among young children? Whether you are writing a grant proposal, teaching a class addressing population health issues, or planning for the delivery of health services, you may find useful information in HDI. You can also learn about the data sources from the explanatory messages provided in the tables.

 

3. How do I use the Health Data Interactive tables?  

Go to the Health Data Interactive home page. Click on a topic in which you are interested. Find a table you want to view and click on its title. The table will opens to a view that gives the basic information on the topic, such as columns headed by calendar year and rows headed by the main topic of the table.  Other variables, also referred to as table dimensions, that may be available will be listed along the top of the table.  You can customize the view of tables by dragging and dropping the variable tiles.  You can click on variable names to hide details of that variable. You can toggle between the table and chart views of each data table.

 

4. What's the difference between the online tables and the downloaded versions?

Each table may be accessed and customized online or downloaded for offline use with Beyond 20/20 software, but the data are the same regardless of how you access it.  You will notice, however, slight difference in the online interface from the offline version.

 

5. Should I install the Beyond 20/20 software?

You can access the information through the online version of the tables without installing the Beyond 20/20 software. However to access data on your computer without going online, you may download and install the free Beyond 20/20 Browser software. With the installed software, you can save and view the tables offline. Downloaded tables will not be automatically updated, even if the online version of the same data table is updated.

 

6. Can I access the data using a Macintosh computer?

Yes, you can view the data using online tables. However, you will not be able to install the Beyond 20/20 Browser software or use downloaded tables offline.

 

7. Are there data for States?

A few tables provide data by state. However, many of the data sources used for HDI tables were designed to provide national and regional estimates, rather than state estimates. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) provides state estimates at their website.

 

8. Are there data by County?

No, county-level data are not available.

 

9. Do you have data on forecasts for the future?

No. Population projections can be found at the Census Bureau and Social Security Administration websites. Health spending forecasts are available from the Congressional Budget Office and from the Trustees Report and National Health Expenditure Projections at the website of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

 

10.  Do you have data from other countries?

No. Information is only presented for the United States. To find data for other countries, you may explore the World Health Organization (WHO) website, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), or the Population Reference Bureau.

 

11. Where can I find information about the sources of the data?

Every table contains explanatory notes about the data sources, calculation methods, and variable definitions. Click on the /i/ symbol next to table titles for a general overview of the data and its source.  Click on the /i/ symbol next to variable names to get more information about each table variable.  You may also explore the data sources page.

 

12. Are the tables linked to micro-data?

No. The data are aggregated and are not linked to micro data. You can find references to the data sources in the explanatory notes by clicking on the /i/ next to each table title.  You may also explore the data sources page.

 

13. How should I cite your Website?

[Data Source*] National Center for Health Statistics, Health Data Interactive, www.cdc.gov/nchs/hdi.htm. Accessed on [Date of access].

* You will find the data source in the table titles.

 

14. What if I still have questions or comments?

Check out the Instructions. Still puzzled? Contact us (hdi@cdc.gov).