Common Variables
CodeDescriptionCategoryTypeFile
RIDAGEYRAge in years at screeningDemographicscontinuousDEMO
RIAGENDRGenderDemographicscategoricalDEMO
RIDRETH1Race/Hispanic originDemographicscategoricalDEMO
DMDEDUC2Education level (adults 20+)DemographicscategoricalDEMO
INDFMPIRRatio of family income to povertyDemographicscontinuousDEMO
BMXBMIBody Mass Index (kg/m²)Body MeasurescontinuousBMX
BMXWTWeight (kg)Body MeasurescontinuousBMX
BMXHTStanding Height (cm)Body MeasurescontinuousBMX
BMXWAISTWaist Circumference (cm)Body MeasurescontinuousBMX
BPXSY1Systolic BP - 1st reading (mmHg)Blood PressurecontinuousBPX
BPXDI1Diastolic BP - 1st reading (mmHg)Blood PressurecontinuousBPX
BPQ020Ever told had high blood pressureBP QuestionnairecategoricalBPQ
LBXTCTotal cholesterol (mg/dL)CholesterolcontinuousTCHOL
LBXHDDDirect HDL-cholesterol (mg/dL)HDLcontinuousHDL
LBXTRTriglycerides (mg/dL)TriglyceridescontinuousTRIGLY
LBXGLUFasting glucose (mg/dL)GlucosecontinuousGLU
LBXGHGlycohemoglobin (%)HbA1ccontinuousHBA1C
DIQ010Doctor told you have diabetesDiabetescategoricalDIQ
SMQ020Smoked at least 100 cigarettes in lifeSmokingcategoricalSMQ
SMQ040Do you now smoke cigarettesSmokingcategoricalSMQ
ALQ120QHow often drink per yearAlcoholcontinuousALQ
PAQ605Vigorous work activityPhysical ActivitycategoricalPAQ
SLQ060Hours of sleep on weekdaysSleepcontinuousSLQ
DPQ010Little interest in doing things (PHQ-9)DepressionordinalDPQ
MCQ160DEver told had coronary heart diseaseMedical ConditionscategoricalMCQ
MCQ160EEver told had heart attackMedical ConditionscategoricalMCQ
MCQ160FEver told had strokeMedical ConditionscategoricalMCQ
MORTSTATFinal mortality statusMortalitycategoricalMORT
PERMTH_EXMMonths of follow-up from MEC examMortalitycontinuousMORT
WTMEC2YRFull sample 2 year MEC exam weightDemographicsweightDEMO
SDMVPSUMasked variance pseudo-PSUDemographicssurveyDEMO
SDMVSTRAMasked variance pseudo-stratumDemographicssurveyDEMO
This is a subset of 2000+ available variables. The full variable database is available in the Python application. Get the code →