What does the CDC Arthritis Program recommend state arthritis programs do regarding the BRFSS survey in even years?
CDC is not supporting the use of arthritis questions in even years. This means we are not funding the BRFSS to put the questions on the survey nor are we providing our standard analytic tables, as we do for all states using odd number year data. Any use of these questions in even years would have to be as state-added questions. We do not feel it is necessary to have the data each year, as the prevalence is unlikely to change rapidly and with lots of programs competing for space on the questionnaire, one can quickly wear their welcome out with the BRFSS coordinator. In infrequent instances, when a state feels it is imperative for its program to make substate prevalence estimates (e.g., for large cities), it may choose to use the arthritis questions in even years.
