DISCWT_U contains the weight to the discharges in the universe of community hospitals. To produce national estimates, use DISCWT_U to weight sampled discharges to the universe of discharges from all community hospitals located in the U.S.

• From 2001 on, DISCWT should be used to create all national estimates, including total charge.
• In the 2000 NIS, there are two discharge-level weights (DISCWT and DISCWTcharge). DISCWT should be used to create national estimates for all analyses except those that involve total charge. DISCWTcharge should be used to create national estimates of total charge.
• In the 1998-1999 NIS, DISCWT should be used to create all national estimates, including total charge.
• Prior to 1998, the discharge weight was named DISCWT_U.

For detailed information about the development and use of discharge and hospital weights, see the year-specific report on the Design of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample.