BookmarkSubscribeRSS Feed
edomachowske
Calcite | Level 5

Hello!

 

I need to get frequencies for a number of different symptoms experienced by patients in a data set. The problem is that they are all listed under the same variable: Symptoms and each column under it has a different string of letters depending on what the patient presented with.

 

Symptoms

C

C, A

W, A

C, W, A

W, R, V

 

I have been able to count the single letters but not all of the "C"'s "W"'s etc. 

 

Is there an easy way to do this?

 

Thanks!

3 REPLIES 3
art297
Opal | Level 21

Here is one way:

 

data have;
  informat Symptoms $50.;
  input Symptoms &;
  cards;
C
C, A
W, A
C, W, A
W, R, V
;

data need;
  set have;
  _n_=1;
  do while (scan(Symptoms,_n_,',') ne '');
    symptom=scan(Symptoms,_n_,',');
    output;
    _n_+1;
  end;
run;

proc freq data=need;
  tables symptom;
run;

HTH,

Art, CEO, AnalystFinder.com

 

mkeintz
PROC Star

You need to loop over each individual symptom in symptons.  Output each of the individuals, and then run proc freq:

 

 

data have;
  input symptoms $8.;
datalines;
C
C, A
W, A
C, W, A
W, R, V
run;

data vhave/ view=vhave;
  set have;
  length symptom $1.;
  do I=1 to countw(symptoms,',');
    symptom= left(scan(symptoms,I,','));
	output;
  end;
run;
proc freq data=vhave;
  tables symptom;
run;
--------------------------
The hash OUTPUT method will overwrite a SAS data set, but not append. That can be costly. Consider voting for Add a HASH object method which would append a hash object to an existing SAS data set

Would enabling PROC SORT to simultaneously output multiple datasets be useful? Then vote for
Allow PROC SORT to output multiple datasets

--------------------------
Ksharp
Super User

Better post the output you need too .

hackathon24-white-horiz.png

2025 SAS Hackathon: There is still time!

Good news: We've extended SAS Hackathon registration until Sept. 12, so you still have time to be part of our biggest event yet – our five-year anniversary!

Register Now

How to Concatenate Values

Learn how use the CAT functions in SAS to join values from multiple variables into a single value.

Find more tutorials on the SAS Users YouTube channel.

SAS Training: Just a Click Away

 Ready to level-up your skills? Choose your own adventure.

Browse our catalog!

Discussion stats
  • 3 replies
  • 1276 views
  • 0 likes
  • 4 in conversation