Available NHANES Datasets

Available Datasets

This package provides 342 NHANES datasets, automatically updated annually with data from 1999-2023 (excluding the 2019-2020 cycle).

Quick Start

library(nhanesdata)

# Load demographics data
demo <- read_nhanes('demo')

# Search for variables
term_search('blood pressure')

Easter Egg: Mortality Linkage Data

The package includes harmonized NHANES-linked mortality data accessible via read_nhanes("mortality"). This dataset links NHANES participants to death certificate records from the National Death Index (NDI), enabling survival analysis and mortality risk studies.

Key features:
* Follow-up through December 31, 2019
* Cause-specific mortality (ICD-10 codes)
* Person-months of follow-up
* Vital status and mortality flags

Important: Mortality linkage requires understanding of survey weights, censoring, and survival analysis methods. Always consult the NCHS data linkage documentation and the NHANES analytic guidelines before analyzing mortality outcomes.

See the Public-Use Linked Mortality Files for methodology and variable definitions.

Codebook Validation Status

The CB column indicates whether each dataset’s categorical variable labels have been cross-validated against CDC codebooks across all survey cycles (1999–2023).

Symbol	Meaning
✓	Verified – Per-cycle CDC codebooks were compared and all labels confirmed correct across cycles.
🔍	Unverified – No CDC codebook was available for automated cross-validation. These are predominantly continuous laboratory values where label drift does not apply. The data is correct; only the independent label audit could not be performed.
🛠️	Fix applied – A label discrepancy was found and corrected. See below.
⚠️	Caution – Known label text changes across survey cycles. See below.

🛠️ Fix Applied: CDQ (Cardiovascular Health)

The 2001–2002 cycle codebook (CDQ_B) listed raw numeric values (“1”, “2”, …, “8”) as labels for variables CDQ009A–CDQ009H instead of the descriptive pain-location text used in all other cycles. This was a CDC codebook deficiency, not a change in questionnaire meaning. The corrected labels (e.g., “Pain in right arm”, “Pain in left chest”) now match the descriptive text from the 2003+ codebooks.

⚠️ Caution: OHXDEN (Oral Health - Dentition)

CDC updated descriptive labels for 111 dental coding variables across survey cycles. The underlying numeric codes retain their original meaning — for example, tooth condition code 2 consistently means “permanent tooth” whether the label reads “Permanent tooth (succedaneous)” (2001) or “Permanent tooth present” (2009+). Similarly, code 3 means “implant” regardless of whether the label is “Implant” or “Dental Implant.” These are cosmetic label refinements by CDC, not changes in clinical coding. Researchers performing cross-cycle analyses should be aware that label text may differ by era.

Notes

All datasets span multiple survey cycles (1999-2023)
Each includes year and seqn columns for merging
Data types are harmonized across cycles
Variable names match CDC documentation

For detailed variable information, use term_search() or visit the CDC NHANES website.