IQuery Frequently Asked Questions

If you can't find the answer you need, email DPH.IQuery@illinois.gov.

IQuery is Illinois query, a web-based data query system for collecting and disseminating public health data. IQuery is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health to assist local health departments in their IPLAN processes.

IPLAN (Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs) refers to Illinois' official certification process for local health departments and the web data system that provides health information to that certification process.

The expected users are local health department staff.

No. Only aggregated data compiled from individual cases, deaths, or events is available.

Data requests can be made through the contact information provided in the metadata description.

Currently, a login is required to access IQuery. Contact DPH.IQuery@illinois.gov for more information on how to access data.

Like any application running on the web, many factors influence its responsiveness. However, no processing takes place on your computer. If a query or report takes more than 10-30 seconds to run, try reloading your page.

Send an email to DPH.IQuery@illinois.gov.

IQuery contains data sets from the Illinois Department of Public Health (vital statistics, sexually transmitted diseases, childhood lead exposure) and census information for Illinois. Additionally, it provides links to related data sources.

A rate is a measure of an event, disease, birth, death, or condition to a population. Crude rates are calculated by dividing the number of events, deaths, or cases by the specified population. The rate is compared to the total population and expressed per 100,000 people.

Counts are the actual number of events, cases, or deaths in a specific population.

Percentages are calculated by dividing the number of events, births, deaths, or cases by the specified population and multiplying it by 100.

IQuery presents data collected and released by different state agencies. The data collected, stored, and displayed varies widely because of different laws and mandates for data collection, different collection methodologies, and different anticipated uses. Data descriptions are provided by the offices and managers responsible for that data. Contact those data managers for more information about the data itself.

The metadata file contains details about each IQuery indicator. These details may include descriptions, dashboard location, data presentation format, available demographics, data sources, and contact information.

Individual data managers provide datasets. Based on the timeliness of when the data is presented to them and when they can load the data into IQuery will determine how quickly it is available. As you select a Health Indicator in IQuery, the years for which data has been reported will be available for your selection.

Public health data are collected, tested, analyzed, and released following a complex process designed to ensure accuracy, clarity, and internal consistency. Data are released only after required approvals have been obtained.

Individual data managers provide datasets for a specific period. Based on the timeliness of when the data is presented to them and when they can load it into IQuery, will determine how quickly it is available.

You may send an email to DPH.IQuery@illinois.gov.

IQuery automatically calculates rates if the necessary data is present. Crude rates are possible if the number of cases and events is known relative to the population, but the cases must be known for a given population. For example, IQuery may include the number (count) of "Deaths caused by Diabetes" for the city of Douglas, but without knowing the population of Douglas, the crude rate cannot be calculated.

IQuery is designed to return results with as much detail as possible. For example, if "Death by Accident" is available for all counties in Illinois, then IQuery will present that. If other data is only available by a total for the whole state, then that is all that can be presented.

Secondly, the IQuery custom chart is designed to reflect your choices as you move through the data query. Extending the example above, if you select a health indicator only available at the county level, you will only get counties displayed. Furthermore, only counties with relevant data for your search will be displayed in the chart.

IQuery has intelligent processing built in so that only Time Periods for which data is available for the selected Health Indicator and Geographic Area will appear. If a particular year does not appear, it means that no reported cases exist during that year or the data is not currently available.

IQuery has intelligent processing built in so that only demographics for which data is available for the selected Health Indicator, Area, and year, will appear. If a particular race, ethnicity, sex, or age group does not show as a selection, it means that data for that demographic does not exist or is unavailable.

The different tabs are explained in the chart below.

A primary or secondary data type refers to the type of data available for visualization. This could be counts, crude rates, or percentages. The type of data is always displayed as the axis label to the left of the chart. Click on the “I” to the left of “data type” selection to see more details about primary and secondary data for your selection.

The data in the IQuery dashboard is displayed by IPLAN community health categories and available by years and geographies. There are seven community health categories with examples below.

Below are examples of community health indicators based on IPLAN categories. Some of the listed indicators can be found in the IQuery dashboard (noted with an asterisk) and others can be obtained from the linked folder of Related Data sources.

Examples

• Population by Age and Gender*
• Dependency Indicators
  
• Race/Ethnicity Distribution*
  
• Median Age for Population
  
• Population 25+ Who Are Non-High School Graduates*
  
• High School Dropouts
  
• Population in Poverty
  
• Population Receiving Food Stamps*
  
• Rural Population
  
• Unemployed*
  
• Population Enrolled in Medicaid*
  
• Single Parent Household
  
• Per Capita Personal Income*
  

Examples

• Mortality Rates*
• Leading Causes of Mortality*
  
• Life Expectancy at Birth*
  
• Excess Non-White Deaths
  
• Population Uninsured*
  
• Years of Potential Life Lost*
  
• Percent Population No Medical Physical in Past 2 Years
  
• Medicaid Enrollees to Medicaid Physician Vendors Ratio
  
• Advanced Life Support Emergency Care Vehicles
  
• Population Residing in Primary Care HPSA
  
• Population with Optimally Fluoridated Water

Examples

• Live Births*
• Infant Mortality Rate
  
• Low Birth Weight*
  
• Mothers Who Smoke During Pregnancy*
  
• Mothers Who Drink During Pregnancy*
  
• Kessner Index of Prenatal Care
  
• Mothers Begin Prenatal in 1st Trimester*
  
• Infants Positive for Cocaine
  
• Leading Causes of Mortality (Ages 1-4)
  
• WIC: Low Weight for Height
  
• Teen Birth Rate
  
• Percent Births to Teens*
  
• Founded Child Abuse/Neglect Rate
  
• Congenital Anomalies
  
• Medicaid Deliveries
  
• IDPA-Eligible Children Receiving EPSDT
  
• Kotelchuck Index of Prenatal Care Utilization*
  
• Method of Delivery*

Examples

• Coronary Heart Disease Mortality Rates*
• Cerebrovascular Diseases Mortality Rates*
  
• Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis Mortality Rates*
  
• Breast Cancer (female) Mortality Rates
  
• Lung Cancer Mortality Rates
  
• Colorectal Cancer Mortality Rates
  
• Cervical Cancer (female) Mortality Rates
  
• Prostate Cancer (male) Mortality Rates
  
• Childhood Cancer (under age 15) Mortality Rates
  
• Alcohol Dependence Syndrome Hospitalization Rates
  
• Total Psychoses Hospitalization Rates
  
• Diabetes Hospitalization Rates
  
• Overweight, Smokers, Sedentary Lifestyles
  
• Breast Cancer Age-adjusted Incidence Rate
  
• Colorectal Cancer Age-adjusted Incidence Rate
  
• Cervical Cancer Age-adjusted Incidence Rate
  
• Lung Cancer Age-adjusted Incidence Rate
  
• Prostate Cancer Age-adjusted Incidence Rate
  
• Percent Diagnosed in situ Breast Cancer (female)
  
• Percent Diagnosed at Local Stage Colorectal Cancer
  
• Percent Diagnosed at Local Stage Prostate Cancer
  
• Percent Diagnosed at Late-Stage Cervical Cancer
  
• Childhood Cancer Age-adjusted Incidence Rate
  

Examples

• COVID-19 Incidence Rates
• Syphilis Incidence Rates*
  
• Gonorrhea Incidence Rates*
  
• Chlamydia Incidence Rates*
  
• HIV Infection Incidence Rates
  
• Basic Series Vaccinations
  
• Haemophilus Meningitis (Ages 0-2 and 0-4)
  
• Foodborne Pathogens Infection Rates
  
• Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
  
• Hepatitis B Incidence Rates
  
• Tuberculosis Incidence Rates
  

Examples

• Toxic Agents Released into Air, Water, Soil
• Accident Mortality Rates*
  
• Homicide Rates*
  
• Suicide Rates*
  
• Non-Fatal Head/Spinal Cord, Hip Injury Hospitalization Rates
  
• Non-Fatal Hip Fracture Hospitalization Rates (Ages 65 and Up)
  
• Non-Fatal Head Injury Hospitalization Rates
  
• Non-Fatal Spinal Cord Injury Hospitalization Rates
  
• Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Mortality Rates
  
• Occupational Diseases/Injuries
  
• Blood Lead Levels in Children*
  
• Assault Rates
  

Examples

• Deaths from COVID-19*
• Hospitalization for Dehydration (Infants, ages 0-1)
  
• Hospitalization for Rheumatic Fever (Children, ages 1-17)
  
• Hospitalization for Asthma (Children, ages 1-14)
  
• Number of Cases of Measles, Mumps, Polio, and Tetanus (ages 1-17)
  
• Number of Cases of Tuberculosis (Adults, 18 and older)
  
• Hospitalization for Uncontrolled Hypertension in Adults
  
• Females with Late Cervical Cancer and In Situ Breast Cancer (5-year average age-adjusted rate and 5-year number)
  

• The “Custom Chart” has detailed numbered instructions for selecting different kinds of variables for your data.
• "Hover-text" definitions and descriptions are available by clicking on the “i” symbols for more details about primary or secondary data type.
  
• Hover over bars to see the tooltip.
  

• Contact us by email at DPH.IQuery@illinois.gov.Your concerns, comments and suggestions are vital for the maintenance and improvement of the system. Please submit your feedback for any problem you encounter and let us know if you'd like a personal response.
• There is a link to other data sources in IQuery.
  
• Each Health Indicator is fully explained in the linked folder titled “IQuery Metadata – Community Health Indicator Description
  
• This page will be updated with questions and answers as necessary. You also can browse the list of Frequently Asked Questions and submit a new question yourself through email at DPH.IQuery@illinois.gov.