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Health Statistics

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a state-based computer-assisted telephone interviewing effort conducted in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Questions are constructed to determine the behaviors of individuals that will affect their risk of developing chronic diseases that may lead to premature mortality and morbidity. The data collected helps to identify high risk populations that can be targeted for intervention programs. The data can also be used to track changes over time of prevalence of risk factor behaviors and related diseases, and can assess the impact of health promotion and prevention intervention programs. Currently, every state in the country, the District of Columbia, and three U.S. territories are members of this surveillance system. The Tennessee Department of Health has been participating in this system on a continuing basis since 1984, surveying adults from randomly selected households throughout the state every month.

These surveys were developed and conducted to monitor state-level prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults associated with premature morbidity and mortality. Many of the behavioral risk factors surveyed in this system cannot be obtained from any other health statistics sources and this system serves as an important, timely, accurate, and often sole, resource in measuring and monitoring the personal health behaviors and lifestyle conditions that are related to good or poor health outcomes or situations.

Although the BRFSS system was originally designed to collect state-level data and make state-level inference, a number of states from the outset stratified their samples to allow them to estimate prevalence of behavioral risk factors for sub-regions within their respective states. Tennessee began this process of stratifying their samples for Health Department regional data beginning with the 2005 BRFSS data.

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Behavioral Risk Factor Survey 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Behavioral Risk Factors Special Edition Newsletter
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Behavioral Risk Factors Special Edition Newsletter
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Behavioral Risk Factors Special Edition Newsletter

Tennessee State and Regional Data

Alcohol Consumption

During the Past 30 Days Have You Had at Least One Drink of Any Alcoholic Beverage
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Had Five or More Drinks on One Occasion
2008  2007  2006  2005

Arthritis

During the Past 30 Days Have You Had Any Symptoms of Pain, Aching or Stiffness in or Around a Joint
2007  2005

Have You Ever Been Told by a Health Professional That You Have Some Form of Arthritis
2007  2005

Are You Limited Because of Arthritis or Joint Symptoms
2007  2005

Asthma

Have You Ever Been Told by a Doctor, Nurse or Other Health Professional That You Had Asthma
2008  2007  2006  2005

Cholesterol

Have You Ever Had Your Blood Cholesterol Checked
 2007  2005

Have You Ever Been Told by a Doctor, Nurse or Other Health Professional That Your Blood Cholesterol Is High
 2007  2005

  
Demographics

Are You Divorced
2008  2007  2006  2005

Are You Hispanic or Latino
2008  2007  2006  2005

Are You Currently Employed for Wages
2008  2007   2006  2005

Is Your Annual Household Income Less Than $20,000
2008  2007  2006  2005

Are You Male or Female
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Served on Active Duty in the U.S. Armed Services
2008  2007  2006  2005

Diabetes

Have You Ever Been Told by a Doctor that You Have Diabetes
2008  2007  2006  2005

Ever Taken a Class or Course to Manage Your Diabetes
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Ever Been Told That Diabetes Has Affected Your Eyes or That You Had Retinopathy
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Ever Had Any Sores or Irritations on Your Feet That Took More Than Four Weeks to Heal
2007  2006  2005

Are You Now Taking Insulin
2008  2007  2006  2005

Are You Taking Diabetes Pills
2007  2006  2005

Diet and Exercise

Adults Who Have a Body Mass Index Greater Than 25/Overweight or Obese
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Participated in Physical Activities or Exercise During the Past Month
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Consumed Five Servings or More of Fruits and Vegetables per Day
2007  2005

Disability

Do You Require Any Special Equipment Due to Health Problems
2008  2007  2006  2005

Are You Limited in Any Way Because of Physical, Mental or Emotional Problems
2008  2007  2006  2005

Health Care Access

Within the Past 12 Months Could You Not See a Doctor Due to Cost
2008  2007   2006  2005

Do You Have One Person or Healthcare Provider That you Think of as Your Personal Doctor
2008  2007   2006  2005

Do You Have Any Kind of Healthcare Coverage
2008  2007  2006  2005

Health Status

Would You Say Your Health Is Fair or Poor
2008  2007  2006  2005

Would You Say In General That Your Health is Excellent
2008  2007  2006  2005

Heart Attack Symptoms

Do You Think That Pain in the Jaw, Neck, or Back Are Symptoms of a Heart Attack
2005

Do You Think That Feeling Weak, Lightheaded, or Faint is a Symptom of a Heart Attack
2005

Do You Think Chest Pain Is a Symptom of a Heart Attack
2005

Do You Think Sudden Trouble Seeing in One or Both Eyes Is a Symptom of a Heart Attack
2005

Do You Think Pain in the Arms or Shoulders Are Symptoms of a Heart Attack
2005

Do You Think Shortness of Breath Is a Symptom of a Heart Attack
2005

HIV/AIDS

Do Any High Risk HIV Situations Apply to You
2008  2005

Have You Ever Been Tested for HIV
2008  2007  2006  2005

Hypertension

Have You Ever Been Told by a Doctor, Nurse or Other Health Professional That Your Blood Pressure is High
2007  2005

Taking Blood Pressure Medication
2007  2005

Immunization

Have You Had a Flu Shot Within the Past 12 Months
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Had a FLuMist or Flu Vaccine Sprayed in Your Nose Within the Past 12 Months
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Ever Had a Pneumonia Shot
2008  2007  2006  2005

Stroke Symptoms

Do You Think Sudden Confusion or Trouble Speaking Are Symptoms of a Stroke
2005

Do You Think Sudden Numbness or Weakness of Face, Arm, or Leg, Especially on One Side Are Symptoms of a Stroke
2005

Do You Think Sudden Trouble Seeing in One or Both Eyes is a Symptom of a Stroke
2005

Do You Think Sudden Chest Pain is a Symptom of a Stroke
2005

Do You Think Sudden Trouble Walking, Dizziness, or Loss of Balance Are Symptoms of a Stroke
2005

Do You Think Sudden Severe Headache with No Known Cause is a Symptom of a Stroke
2005

Tobacco Use

Are You a Current Smoker
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Tried to Quit Smoking Within the Past 12 Months
2008  2007  2006  2005

Visual Impairment

Have You Been Told That You Now Have Cataracts
2008  2006  2005

Have You Ever Been Told That You Have Glaucoma
2008  2006  2005

Do You Have Any Kind of Health Insurance for Eye Care
2008  2006  2005

Have You Ever Been Told That You Have Macular Degeneration
2008  2006  2005

Women's Health

Have You Ever Had a Clinical Breast Exam
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Had a Hysterectomy
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Ever Had a Mammogram
2008  2007  2006  2005

Have You Ever Had a Pap Test
2008  2007  2006  2005

State Comparisons

Alcohol

Had at Least One Drink of Alcohol in Past 30 Days
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002

Binge Drinking
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002

Heavy Drinking
2008  2007   2006   2005   2004   2003  2002

Arthritis
Ever Told Have Arthritis
2007   2005  2001
Asthma

Currently Have Asthma
2008  2007   2006   2005   2004   2003  2002   2001   2000

Ever Told Have Asthma
2008  2007   2006  2005   2004  2003  2002   2001  2000

Cholesterol

Ever Told Blood Cholesterol High
2007   2005  2003  2001

Colon Cancer Screening

Have you ever had a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy?
2008  2006  2004  2002

Have You Had a Blood Stool Test Within The Past 2 Years?
2008  2006  2004  2002

Diabetes

Ever Told Have Diabetes
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000

Diet and Exercise

Consumption of Five or More Servings Per Day of Fruits and Vegetables
2007  2005  2003  2002  2000

Regular moderate or vigorous physical activity
2007  2005  2003  2001

Regular vigorous physical activity
2007  2005  2003  2001

No Leisure-Time Physical Activity
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000

Overweight or Obese
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003   2002   2001   2000

Disability

Activity Limitations Due to Disability
2008  2007   2005  2003   2001

Health Care Access

No Health Insurance
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003   2002  2001  2000

Health Status

Self-Reported Health Status as Fair or Poor
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000

Hypertension

Ever Told Have High Blood Pressure
2007  2005  2003   2001

Immunization

Had Influenza Vaccination in Past Year (Age 65 and Older)
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001

Had Pneumococcal Vaccination (Age 65 and Older)
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001

Oral Health

Visited dentist within the past year
2008  2006  2004

Ever had any permanent teeth extracted
2008  2006  2004

All natural teeth extracted (age 65 and older)
2008  2006  2004

Prostate Cancer Screening

Had PSA test within past 2 years (men age 40 and over)
2008  2006  2004  2002

Tobacco Use

Current Cigarette Smoking
2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002 2001  2000

Women's Health

Have you had a Mammogram in the Past Two Years?
2008  2006  2004  2002  2000

Have you had a Pap test in the Past Three Years (women age 18 and over)
2008  2006  2004  2002  2000

Related BRFSS Links

Tennessee Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
CDC BRFSS
BRFSS Questionnaire