Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a list of information collection requests under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 639-5960 or send an e-mail to omb@cdc.gov. Send written comments to CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)—(OMB No. 0920-0237 exp. 12/31/2011)—Revision—National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

Section 306 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 242k), as amended, authorizes that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (DHHS), acting through NCHS, shall collect statistics on the extent and nature of illness and disability; environmental, social and other health hazards; and determinants of health of the population of the United States. This three-year clearance request includes the data collection in 2011 and 2012 and data planning and testing activities for 2013-2014 data collection.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was conducted periodically between 1970 and 1994, and continuously since 1999 by the National Center for Health Statistics, CDC. Almost 19,000 persons are screened, with about 5,000 participants interviewed and examined annually. Participation in NHANES is completely voluntary and confidential.

NHANES programs produce descriptive statistics which measure the health and nutrition status of the general population. Through the use of questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests, NHANES studies the relationship between diet, nutrition and health in a representative sample of the United States. NHANES monitors the prevalence of chronic conditions and risk factors related to health such as arthritis, asthma, osteoporosis, infectious diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, drug and alcohol use, physical activity, environmental exposures, and diet. NHANES data are used to produce national reference data on height, weight, and nutrient levels in the blood. Results from more recent NHANES can be compared to findings reported from previous surveys to monitor changes in the health of the U.S. population over time. NHANES continues to collect genetic material on a national probability sample for future genetic research aimed at understanding disease susceptibility in the U.S. population. NCHS collects personal identification information from survey respondents to facilitate linkage of survey data with health related administrative records. For the 2011-2012 survey, NHANES will add an Asian oversample to the survey design.

NHANES data users include the U.S. Congress; the World Health Organization; numerous Federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Department of Agriculture; private groups such as the American Heart Association; schools of public health; private businesses; individual practitioners; and administrators. NHANES data are used to establish, monitor, and/or evaluate recommended dietary allowances, food fortification policies, environmental exposures, immunization guidelines and health education and disease prevention programs.

There is no cost to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 49,626.