2013 BRFSS data

Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the CDC’s Division of Population Health, I am pleased to inform you of the recent release of the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.

The BRFSS continues to be the largest ongoing telephone-based surveillance system in the world, with more than 491,000 interviews conducted in 2013 across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The 2013 data on health risk behaviors, clinical preventive health practices, and health care access (primarily related to chronic disease and injury) come from a representative sample of non-institutionalized adults aged 18 years and older in each state.

The 2013 BRFSS data continue to reflect the changes initially made in 2011 in weighting methodology (raking) and the addition of cell phone-only respondents. The data allow for state-to-state and state-to-nationwide comparisons, and the state-specific data provide a sound basis for developing and evaluating public health programs, including programs targeted to reduce disparities in addressing health risks.

We encourage our partners from public health agencies, private enterprises, non-profit organizations, academia and government posts at the national, state, and local levels to use the data to inform data-based public health activities. We hope the new BRFSS data strengthen the capacity of all public health stakeholders and partners, to identify and address health risks, monitor changes in health-risk behaviors and diseases, assess public health programs, and design and target implementation of prevention strategies at local and state levels.

To access the 2013 prevalence estimates, visit the BRFSS website at the following link: 
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss/

Data files are available at: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/annual_2013.html.
The 2013 BRFSS data set is an important public health tool. We look forward to learning how you’ve used the data to help you prevent disease and promote health.

Warm regards,
Wayne H. Giles, MD, MS
Director
Division of Population Health
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention