Objective-This report presents trends in mean weight, recumbent length, height, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) among children and adolescents in the United States from 1999 through 2018.
Objective-This report presents trends in mean weight, recumbent length, height, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) among children and adolescents in the United States from 1999 through 2018.
Background-The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Joinpoint regression software is a widely used software program for evaluating trends. In addition to producing model estimates for trend models, this software can search for changes in slope along the trend line. One component of the software, which tests whether line segment slopes are zero, is different from the usual t-test of zero slope that is used in linear models. This report will demonstrate this Joinpoint software procedure through replication using the SAS Institute's statistical software (that is, SAS) and discuss the implications of the different assumptions used by Joinpoint and a typical SAS model for the test of zero slope. Methods-First, Joinpoint's procedure for testing a zero slope is compared with a typical test of zero slope using SAS, and the assumptions behind both approaches are evaluated. Second, the test from the Joinpoint software is replicated in SAS using its PROC REG procedure and additional SAS programming. Trend analyses of rates of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl from the general population and among females are used as examples. Results-In the evaluation of the trend of drug overdose deaths for the total population, Joinpoint produces a similar result to the linear model test in SAS. For the female subgroup, however, Joinpoint and SAS produce differing results for the test of zero slope. The replication of the Joinpoint test of zero slope using SAS demonstrates that Joinpoint's procedure is based on fewer degrees of freedom, which results in a larger standard error estimate. Conclusion-The Joinpoint approach accounts for the fact that the joinpoints are estimated and thus leads to a more conservative hypothesis test, particularly when the number of points in a trend analysis is small.
Objectives-This report presents national estimates of different types of health insurance coverage and lack of coverage (uninsured). Estimates are presented by selected sociodemographic characteristics, including age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, poverty status, education level, employment status, and marital status.
Background-Regular screening tests can lead to early detection of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, when treatment is likely to be more effective. This study examines and compares sociodemographic, health status, and health behavior patterns of screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer among women aged 45 and over in the United States. Methods-This study is based on data from the 2015 and 2018 National Health Interview Surveys. Women were considered to have received colorectal cancer screening if they reported having one of the following: a) report of a home fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the past year, b) sigmoidoscopy procedure in the past 5 years with FOBT in the past 3 years, or c) colonoscopy in the past 10 years. Women were considered to have received breast cancer screening if they had a mammogram within the past 2 years. Women were considered to have received cervical cancer screening if they reported having a Pap smear in the past 3 years. Cancer screening was analyzed by sociodemographic, health status, health behavior, and health care use characteristics. Results-Among women aged 45 and over, higher percentages of screening were associated with higher socioeconomic status, being married or living with a partner, and healthy behaviors such as not smoking, participating in physical activity, and receiving a flu shot. Conclusion-Differences in screening identified in this study are generally consistent with previous studies on screening for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers for women at average risk and within the age groups recommended for screening. The results of this study support other findings showing the persistence of disparities in cancer screening among women aged 45 and over according to most of the selected characteristics regardless of recommended age of screening.
Objectives-This report describes the prevalence of multiple (two or more) chronic conditions (MCC) among veterans and nonveterans and examines whether differences by veteran status may be explained by differences in sociodemographic composition, smoking behavior, and weight status based on body mass index. Methods-Data from the 2015-2018 National Health Interview Survey were used to estimate the prevalence of MCC among adults aged 25 and over by veteran status and sex. Estimates (age-stratified and age-adjusted) were also presented by race and Hispanic origin, educational attainment, poverty status, smoking status, and weight status. Multivariate logistic regression models examined the odds of MCC by veteran status after age stratification (65 and over or under 65) and further adjustment for age and other covariates. Results-Among adults aged 25 and over, age-adjusted prevalence of MCC was higher among veterans compared with nonveterans for both men and women (22.2% compared with 17.0% for men aged 25-64, 66.9% compared with 61.9% for men aged 65 and over, 25.4% compared with 19.6% among women aged 25-64, and 74.1% compared with 61.8% among women aged 65 and over). Following stratification by age and adjustment for selected sociodemographic characteristics, the prevalence of MCC remained higher among veterans compared with nonveterans for both men and women. After further adjustment for smoking status and weight status, differences in the prevalence of MCC by veteran status were reduced but remained statistically significant, with the exception of men aged 65 and over.