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This categorical variable (ZIPINC_QRTL) provides a quartile classification of the estimated median household income of residents in the patient's ZIP Code. The quartiles are identified by values of 1 to 4, indicating the poorest to wealthiest populations. These values are derived from ZIP Code-demographic data obtained from Claritas. Because these estimates are updated annually, the value ranges for the ZIPINC_QRTL categories vary by year. The dollar ranges represented by each category are:
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Quartile Ranges of ZIPINC_QRTL by Year
|
|
Year
|
Quartile 1
|
Quartile 2
|
Quartile 3
|
Quartile 4
|
| 1997 |
1-28,999 |
29,000-35,999 |
36,000-46,999 |
47,000+ |
| 1998 |
1-28,999 |
29,000-36,999 |
37,000-49,999 |
50,000+ |
| 1999 |
1-30,999 |
31,000-39,999 |
40,000-51,999 |
52,000+ |
| 2000 |
1-31,999 |
32,000-41,999 |
42,000-54,999 |
55,000+ |
| 2001 |
1-33,999 |
34,000-43,999 |
44,000-58,999 |
59,000+ |
| 2002 |
1-35,999 |
36,000-45,999 |
46,000-61,999 |
62,000+ |
| 2003 |
1-35,999 |
36,000-44,999 |
45,000-59,999 |
60,000+ |
| 2004 |
1-35,999 |
36,000-44,999 |
45,000 - 58,999 |
59,000+ |
| 2005 |
1-36,999 |
37,000-45,999 |
46,000-60,999 |
61,000+ |
| 2006 |
1 - 37,999 |
38,000 - 46,999 |
47,000 - 61,999 |
62,000+ |
| 2007 |
1 - 38,999 |
39,000 - 47,999 |
48,000 - 62,999 |
63,000+ |
For the years 1998-2002, another categorical variable (ZIPINC) indicates the median household income of the patient's ZIP Code of residence based on 1999 demographics. The categories are defined so that the maximum for category 1 ($25,000) is approximately 150% of the 1999 poverty level and the boundary between the second and third categories ($35,000) is approximately the national median household income.
Prior to 1998, information on the median household income for a patient's ZIP Code was retained in two data elements ZIPINC4 and ZIPINC8.
To protect patient confidentiality, precautions are taken to mask ZIP Codes. ZIPINC_QRTL values have been suppressed for all ZIP Codes with populations below a minimum threshold. Also, when only one ZIP Code in a state was represented in a particular ZIPINC_QRTL category, ZIPINC_QRTL was set to missing (.). ZIPINC_QRTL is also reported as missing when the patient's ZIP Code was not reported, or it could not be matched to the Claritas file.
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