Authors: Ma Somsouk Hal F Yee Scott W Biggins
Publish Date: 2009/05/08
Volume: 54, Issue: 11, Pages: 2325-
Abstract
The National Center for Health Statistics NCHS is the principal health statistics agency for the United States It seeks to provide accurate relevant and timely data on health status and utilization of health care As such the NCHS represents a tremendous repository of behavioral biological and clinical data that can be employed to identify issues and effect change in public policy related to liver health and disease By providing an understanding of the rich publicly available data systems within the NCHS investigators may capitalize on an efficient means to shape current knowledge of liver diseaseThe first four goals of the AASLD’s current strategic plan are to 1 promote and support basic and clinical research in liver and biliary tract diseases 2 educate healthcare professionals scientists and the public about liver disease 3 improve the training of professionals committed to the science and practice of hepatology and 4 identify issues and effect change in public policy related to liver health and disease To achieve these goals it would be valuable to elucidate the broad impact of liver disease on health care and personal and public health as well as trends in liver health that are secular or in response to specific interventions or changes in public policy In fact collection of such vital information falls within the mission of the National Center for Health Statistics NCHS which is to “provide statistical information that will guide actions and policies to improve the health of the American people” http//wwwcdcgov/nchs/about/mission/missionhtm As the principal health statistics agency for the United States the NCHS seeks to provide accurate relevant and timely data on health status and utilization of health care Thus the NCHS represents a tremendous repository of behavioral biological and clinical data The aim of this report is to raise awareness of the rich publicly available resources available through the NCHS by providing brief summaries of the most commonly used data systems Where available references to liverrelated publications are cited at the beginning of the description of each database We conclude by providing an example of how each database could be used to answer novel clinically important questions about hepatitis B
Keywords: