Current Release Notes

New Release as of August 2024!

The PLACES 2024 release includes 40 measures—36 based on 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data and 4 based on 2021 BRFSS data (high blood pressure, taking high blood pressure medication, high cholesterol, and cholesterol screening).

• Seven new measures were added for health-related social needs in the 2024 release; social isolation, food stamps, food insecurity, housing insecurity, utility services threat, transportation barriers, and lack of social and emotional support for 39 states and District of Columbia (DC). The small area estimation model for these measures was based on data from 39 states and DC.
• Two measures (chronic kidney disease and core preventive service use for older adults) were discontinued because of program recommendations.
• US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for colorectal cancer screening was updated to the population aged 45–75 from 50–75 years.
• Because of the change to the cervical cancer screening question in BRFSS 2022, we were not able to include the estimate for this release.
• All measure definitions were revised, and some measure names or definitions were adjusted to match other surveillance systems or survey questions:
  • Adults were defined as people aged >=18 years, all “aged >=18 years” were removed from measure names.
  • Current asthma prevalence was changed to current asthma.
  • Cancer (excluding skin cancer) was changed to cancer (non-skin) or melanoma.
  • High cholesterol among adults aged ≥18 years who have been screened in the past 5 years was changed to high cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened.
  • Taking medicine for high blood pressure control among adults aged ≥18 years with high blood pressure was changed to taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure.
  • The definition for cholesterol screening within the past 5 years was updated.
  • Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year was changed to routine checkup within the past year.
  • Visits to dentist or dental clinic was changed to visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year.
  • Current smoking was changed to current cigarette smoking.
  • Sleeping less than 7 hours was changed to short sleep duration.
  • Mental health not good for ≥14 days was changed to frequent mental distress.
  • Physical health not good for ≥14 days was changed to frequent physical distress.
• Population and geography changes
  • The PLACES 2024 release is the first release that uses Census 2020 population data and geographic boundaries.
  • For county-level estimation, Census 2022 county population intercensal estimates were used.
  • The American Community Survey 2018–2022 data were used for all geographic levels.
  • Four measures (high blood pressure, taking high blood pressure medication, high cholesterol, and cholesterol screening) based on 2021 BRFSS have been. recalculated using Census 2020 population data and geographic boundaries to match other measures.
  • First-time Connecticut planning regions were used as county equivalents.