Appendix B
Definitions of BRFSS Risk Factors
and Preventive Health Measures
AIDS Knowledge/Attitudes
HIV Test – Respondents, age 18-64, who have never had a test for HIV infection.
Chances of Getting HIV – Respondents, age 18-64, who believe that their chances of getting infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are medium or high.
Teen Condom Use – Respondents, age 18-64, who would not encourage sexually active teenagers to use a condom.
Breast Exam
Breast Exam (1) – Female respondents, age 18 and older, who report that they have never had a breast exam by a doctor.
Breast Exam (2) – Female respondents, age 40 and older, who report that they have never had a breast exam by a doctor.
Breast Exam Within 2 Years – Female respondents, age 50 and older, who report that they have not had a breast exam within the past two years.
Cardiovascular Disease
Heart Attack or Myocardial Infarction – Respondents who report they were told by a doctor that they have had a heart attack or myocardial infarction.
Stroke – Respondents who report they were told by a doctor that they have had a stroke.
Cervical Cancer
Pap Smear (1) – Female respondents, age 18 and older who report that they have never had a Pap smear. Year 2010 Objective – Target >=97% females age 18 and older who have had a Pap smear.
Pap Smear, with Uterine Cervix (2) – Female respondents, with uterine cervix, age 18 and older, who report that they have never had a Pap smear.
Pap Smear Within 3 Years – Female respondents, with uterine cervix, age 18 and older, who report that they did not have a Pap smear within the last three years.
Cholesterol Screening and Awareness
Cholesterol Screening (1) – Respondents who have never had their cholesterol checked.
Cholesterol Screening (2) – Respondents who have not had their cholesterol checked within the past five years. Year 2010 Objective - Target >= 80% who have had their cholesterol checked within the past five years.
Cholesterol Awareness – Respondents who report that their cholesterol has been checked and they have been told their cholesterol is high by a health professional.
Clinical Breast Exam – See Breast Exam
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Sigmoidoscopy – Respondents, age 50 and over, who report they have never had a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Year 2010 Objective - Target >= 50% age 50 and over who have had a sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy.
Blood Stool Test – Respondents, age 50 and over, who report they have not used a home blood stool kit in the past two years. Year 2010 Objective - Target >= 50% age 50 and over who have had a blood stool test.
Diabetes
Diabetes Awareness – Respondents who report they were told by a doctor that they have diabetes. Year 2010 Objective - Target >= 80% of adults with diabetes whose condition has been diagnosed.
Drinking Status
Current Drinkers – Respondents who report they had alcoholic beverages in the past month.
Binge Drinking (Acute Drinking) – Respondents who report having had five or more drinks on an occasion, one or more times in the past month. Year 2010 Objective - Target <=6% of adults engaging in binge drinking during the past month.
Chronic Drinking – Respondents who report drinking 60 or more alcoholic beverages a month (men) or 30 or more alcoholic beverages a month (women).
Drinking and Driving – Respondents who report having driven after having too much to drink, one or more times in the past month.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables – Respondents who report they are not consuming five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Year 2010 Objective - Target >=75% who are consuming two or more servings of fruits a day. Year 2010 Objective - Target >=50% who are consuming three or more servings of vegetables a day
Health Insurance
Health Insurance (1) – Respondents age 18 and older who report they have no health care coverage.
Health Insurance (2) – Respondents age 18-64 years who report they have no health care coverage. Year 2010 Objective - Target 100% having coverage.
Health Status
Activities Limited – Mean number of days in the past 30 days when activities were limited among respondents reporting days when physical health or mental health was not good.
Mental Health Not Good – Mean number of days in the past 30 days when mental health was not good as reported by respondents.
Physical Health Not Good – Mean number of days in the past 30 days when physical health was not good as reported by respondents.
Self-Reported Health Status – Respondents who report having a general health status of fair or poor.
Hypertension
Hypertension Awareness – Respondents who report that their blood pressure has been checked and they have been told they have high blood pressure.
Hypertension Screening - Respondents who report their blood pressure has not been checked within the past two years.
Immunization
Flu Shot – Respondents, age 65 and older, who report that they did not have a flu shot within the past 12 months. Year 2010 Objective – Target >= 90% who have had a flu shot in the past 12 months.
Pneumonia Vaccination – Respondents, age 65 and older, who report they have never had a pneumonia vaccination. Year 2010 Objective – Target >= 90% who have had a pneumonia vaccination.
Mammography
Mammogram (1) – Female respondents age 18 and older, who report that they have never had a mammogram.
Mammogram (2) – Female respondents, age 40 and older, who report that they have never had a mammogram.
Mammogram Within 2 Years – Female respondents, age 50 and older, who report that they did not have a mammogram within the past two years.
Mammography and Breast Exam
Mammogram & Breast Exam – Female respondents, age 40 and older, who report that they have never had a mammogram and a breast exam.
Mammogram & Breast Exam Within 2 Years – Female respondents, age 50 and older, who report that they did not have a mammogram and a breast exam within the past two years. Year 2010 Objective – Target >= 70% of women, age 50 and over, who have had a mammogram and a breast exam in the preceding two years.
Obesity
Obesity: By Body Mass Index – Respondents with a body mass index (BMI) >= 30.0. BMI is defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (w/h**2). Year 2010 Objective – Target <=15% at or above the BMI level of 30.0. This should be interpreted with extreme caution since people tend to under-report their weight. BRFSS may underestimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity.
Pap Smear - See Cervical Cancer
Sigmoidoscopy - See Colorectal Cancer Screening
Smoking Status
Ever Smoked – Respondents who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.
Current Smoker – Respondents who have smoked 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and reported smoking everyday or some days. Year 2010 Objective – Target <= 12% who smoke cigarettes.