Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a state-based health survey that annually collects information on health conditions, behaviors, preventive practices, and access to health care. BRFSS data are used to identify emerging health problems, establish health objectives and track their progress, and develop and evaluate public health policies and programs to address identified problems.

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Percent of Missouri adults living with health conditions

Data Year Prevalence % Lower CI Upper CI
Current Asthma Derived from 'yes' responses to the following questions: Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you had asthma? AND Do you still have asthma? 2011 9.2 8.2 10.2
Arthritis Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia? 2011 28.8 27.2 30.4
Cancer - other than skin Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Have you ever been told you had any other types of cancer? 2011 7.3 6.5 8.1
Skin Cancer Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you had skin cancer? 2011 6.5 5.7 7.3
Diabetes Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes? (Females who responded yes to having been told they had diabetes only when pregnant and respondents that were told they had pre-diabetes or were borderline diabetic are not included as having diabetes. 2011 10.2 9.2 11.2
High Blood Pressure Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have high blood pressure? (Females who responded yes to having been told they had high blood pressure only when pregnant and respondents that were told they had borderline high or were pre-hypertensive are not included as having high blood pressure.) 2011 34.3 32.7 35.9
High Cholesterol Derived from 'yes' responses to the following questions: 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? 2011 40.4 38.6 42.2
Angina or Coronary Heart Disease Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional ever told you that you had angina or coronary heart disease? 2011 4.7 4.1 5.3
Myocardial Infarction or "Heart Attack"Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional ever told you that you had a heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction? 2011 5.6 4.8 6.4
Stroke Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional ever told you that you had a stroke? 2011 3.6 3.0 4.2
Depressive Disorder Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you have a depressive disorder (including depression, major depression, dysthymia or minor depression)? 2011 20.1 18.7 21.5
COPD Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema or chronic bronchitis? 2011 8.1 7.3 8.9
Kidney Disease Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you have kidney disease? Do not include kidney stones, bladder infection or incontinence. 2011 2.3 1.9 2.7

Percent of Missouri adults with risk factors

Data Year Prevalence % Lower CI Upper CI
Fair or Poor General Health Status Derived from 'fair' or 'poor' response to the following question: Would you say that in general your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor? 2011 18.2 17.0 19.4
No Health Care Coverage - Ages 18-64 Derived from 'no' response from respondents under the age of 65 to the following question: Do you have any kind of health care coverage, including health insurance, prepaid plans such as HMOs, or government plans such as Medicare? 2011 21.3 19.5 23.1
Current Cigarette Smoking Derived from 'yes' response to the following question: Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life? AND 'Every day' or 'some days' response to the following question: Do you now smoke cigarettes every day, some days, or not at all? 2011 25.0 23.4 26.6
Binge Drinking (Women) Binge drinking is defined as having 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women on one or more occasions in the past 30 days. It is derived from yes or no response to to the question 'In the past 30 days, have you had a least one drink of any alcoholic beverage?' AND '1' or more times (occasions) response to the question 'Considering all types of alcoholic beverages, how many times during the past 30 days did you have X [X=5 Men, X=4 Women] or more drinks on an occasion? 2011 12.9 11.1 14.7
Binge Drinking (Men) Binge drinking is defined as having 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women on one or more occasions in the past 30 days.<br>It is derived from yes or no response to to the question 'In the past 30 days, have you had a least one drink of any alcoholic beverage?' AND'1' or more times (occasions) response to the question 'Considering all types of alcoholic beverages, how many times during the past 30 days did you have X [X=5 Men, X=4 Women] or more drinks on an occasion? 2011 26.1 23.4 28.8
Ate Fruits & Vegetables 5 or more times per day Derived by the number of times per day, week or month respondent drank 100% fruit juice, and ate fruit, dark green vegetables, orange-colored vegetables, or other vegetables. (See questions in 2011 Questionnaire in Data Elements) 2011 14.1 12.8 15.3
No Leisure Time Physical Activity in past month Derived from 'no' response to the following question: During the past 30 days, other than your regular job, did you participate in any physical activities or exercise such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise? 2011 28.4 26.8 30.0
Overweight Overweight is a BMI of 25.0 - 29.99. Obesity is a BMI of 30.0 and greater. Derived by calculating BMI using responses to the following questions: About how much do you weigh without shoes? About how tall are you without shoes? Body mass index (BMI) is an indicator or body fat and is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg / m2).Weight in pounds (lbs) is converted to weight in kilograms (kg) using 0.45 kg/lb. Height in feet and inches is first converted to height in inches (in), then height in centimeters (cm) using 2.54 cm/in, then to meters by dividing by 100. 2011 34.6 32.8 36.4
Obesity Overweight is a BMI of 25.0 - 29.99. Obesity is a BMI of 30.0 and greater. Derived by calculating BMI using responses to the following questions: About how much do you weigh without shoes? About how tall are you without shoes? Body mass index (BMI) is an indicator or body fat and is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg / m2).Weight in pounds (lbs) is converted to weight in kilograms (kg) using 0.45 kg/lb. Height in feet and inches is first converted to height in inches (in), then height in centimeters (cm) using 2.54 cm/in, then to meters by dividing by 100. 2011 30.3 28.5 32.1
Do not always wear a seat belt Derived from "always" response to the following question: How often do you use seat belts when you drive or ride in a car? 2011 22.6 21.0 24.2

Percent of Missouri adults engaging in preventive practices

Immunizations in past year Data Year Prevalence % Lower CI Upper CI
Influenza - Ages 18 and older Derived from 'yes' response from men and women 18 years of age and older to the following question: During the past 12 months, have you had either a seasonal flu shot or a seasonal flu vaccine that was sprayed in your nose? 2011 37.8 36.0 39.6
Influenza - Age 65 and older Derived from 'yes' response from men and women 65 years of age and older to the following question: During the past 12 months, have you had either a seasonal flu shot or a seasonal flu vaccine that was sprayed in your nose? 2011 63.1 60.4 65.8
Pneumococcal - Age 65 and older Derived from 'yes' response from men and women 65 years of age and older to the following question: A pneumonia shot or pneumococcal vaccine is usually given only once or twice in a person's lifetime and is different from the flu shot. Have you ever had a pneumonia shot? 2011 71.7 69.2 74.2
Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Data Year Prevalence % Lower CI Upper CI
Mammography Derived from 'Yes' response from women 50 years of age and older to the following question: 'A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast to look for breast cancer. Have you ever had a mammogram?' AND 'Within the past year' response to the question: 'How long has it been since you had your last mammogram?' 2010 64.1 61.3 67.0
Pap Test Derived from 'yes' response from women 18 years of age and older to the following question: A Pap test is a test for cancer of the cervix. Have you ever had a Pap? AND 'Within the past year' or 'Within the past 2 years' or 'Within the past 3 years' response to the following question: How long has it been since you had your last Pap test? 2010 80.1 77.2 83.1
Colon Cancer Screening Data Year Prevalence % Lower CI Upper CI
Home Blood Stool Test Derived from 'yes' response from men and women 50 years of age and older to the following question: A blood stool test is a test that may use a special kit at home to determine whether the stool contains blood. Have you ever had this test using a home kit? AND 'Within the past year' or response to the following question: How long has it been since you had your last blood stool test using a home kit? 2010 38.7 34.1 43.4
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy/ColonoscopyDerived from 'yes' response from men and women 50 years of age and older to the following question: Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are exams in which a tube is inserted in the rectum to view the colon for signs of cancer or other health problems. Have you ever had either of these exams? 2010 65.2 63.0 67.5
Prostate Cancer Screening Data Year Prevalence % Lower CI Upper CI
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Derived from 'yes' response from men 40 years of age and older to the following question: A Prostate-Specific Antigen test, also called a PSA test, is a blood test used to check men for prostate cancer. Have you ever had a PSA test? AND 'Within the past year' response to the following question: How long has it been since you had your last PSA test? 2010 66.9 62.8 71.0
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) Derived from a 'yes' response from men age 40 and older to the following question: A digital rectal exam is an exam in which a doctor, nurse or other health professional places a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the size, shape, and hardness of the prostate gland. Have you ever had a digital rectal exam? 2010 74.2 70.9 77.5
General Data Year Prevalence % Lower CI Upper CI
Take Folic Acid daily - Females 18-44 Derived from a 'yes' response to the following question: How many times a week do you currently take a mulitivitamin, a prenatal vitamin or a folic acid vitamin? 2011 34.7 29.0 40.4
HIV/AIDS Test - Ages 18 and older Derived from 'yes' response from respondents 18 to 64 years of age to the following question: Have you ever been tested for HIV? Do not count tests you may have had as part of a blood donation. Include testing fluid from your mouth. 2011 32.3 30.5 34.1

Note: In 2011, data from interviews with adult cell phone-only users were added to data from landline interviews. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began weighting BRFSS data using a new methodology that is explained in the fact sheet. Therefore, 2011 BRFSS data should not be compared to previous year’s data. The 2011 Key Findings Report and the 2011 Annual BRFSS Data Report will be available at http://health.mo.gov/data/brfss/data.php in the near future.