Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (1984+) (BRFSS)

Tracks health risks in the United States. Monitors state-level prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults associated with premature morbidity and mortality. Collects data on actual behaviors, rather than on attitudes or knowledge, that would be especially useful for planning, initiating, supporting, and evaluating health promotion and disease prevention programs. 2006-2024 has been converted into a cumulative Stata file.

In 1984, the first BRFSS survey included 15 states.  By 1993, all 50 states were participating.  Since 1996, all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. and some territories participate.  See the CDC site for when states begin participating. Not all questions are asked each year.  Not all states participate in each question. The states use a standardized core questionnaire—where some core questions are asked every year (fixed core) and others are asked every other year (rotating core)—optional modules—that states can choose to use according to need—and state-added questions. To determine which states used which modules, see the Questionnaires page.

Keep in mind that an optional module (which most states included) had a few questions on gender identify and sexual orientation.  These were removed from BRFSS starting with 2024 and old data was reposted without those questions.  That data was preserved in DataLuomos.