topic Re: Combining multiple variables to create a new variable in SAS Programming

Combining multiple variables to create a new variable

aigiss — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:51:23 GMT

Hello everyone this is what I am dealing with.

I have three variables Syphilis Gonorrhea chlamydia (dichotomous) in dataset called "combined_dataset." I want to combined those variables to create a new variable "STIs" based on premise of 'N' and 'Y'. However, when I input the code (see below), the numbers are not adding up for the variable 'STIs' for 'Y' observations (should be n=1193). Can someone help?

data combined_dataset;
  set combined_dataset;
  length STIs $1;
  if Syphilis = "Y" or Gonorrhea = "Y" or Chlamydia = "Y" then STIs = "Y";
  else combined_variable = "N";
run;

Re: Combining multiple variables to create a new variable

Reeza — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:54:47 GMT

It should not be 1193 because it's not a mutually exclusive criteria. If they don't have chlamydia it doesn't mean they don't have something else at all.

Re: Combining multiple variables to create a new variable

aigiss — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:06:17 GMT

I fail to understand your explanation, I apologize can you clarify your answer?

Re: Combining multiple variables to create a new variable

Reeza — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:07:42 GMT

A person can have more than one disease at a time, so the most that Y should be is 1,193 but not what it should be. If you have more than one disease, you get counted only once in this summary.

Re: Combining multiple variables to create a new variable

aigiss — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:09:59 GMT

Ooooh. That is right. Duh! Thank you for the explanation. I need my cup of coffee.

Re: Combining multiple variables to create a new variable

Reeza — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:11:04 GMT

No worries, I initially mixed up the Y/N in my explanation.