The New York City Community Outreach Study: biomedical and mental health status among a community sample of urban Hispanics.

Objective: This report provides a snapshot of health behavior and risk in one low-income, urban, Latino community. As part of a community health and education program, 200 adult residents were asked about their health status and behavior and screened for conditions known to constitute significant health risk.

Design: A random sample of 10 buildings around a large community-based organization (CBO) service area was selected to receive personal invitation and/or door-to-door flyers announcing several days of free health screening and education at the CBO. All individuals age > or = 18 years were eligible. Those who received screening were mailed lay descriptions of their results along with recommendations and locations for follow-up, if appropriate.

Setting And Participants: Participants were adult residents of an economically and medically under-served district in New York City, where Latinos make up approximately 75% of the population. Free screening for high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and depression was provided.

Main Outcome Measures: The clinical outcomes of the aforementioned tests constitute the main outcomes of this report.

Results: Compared to national estimates for Hispanics, health risk was quite high in this sample, particularly with regard to diabetes and cholesterol. Moreover, participants were much less likely to have insurance or to have a regular source of health care than reported in national studies of Hispanics.

Conclusions: Though site specific, these data provide critical information to local CBOs and can be used as a tool for comparison with national data and Healthy People 2010 goals.