Study design and participation rates of the New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2004.
BACKGROUND
Few state or local health agencies have accurate local-level information on the prevalence of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES) was designed as a new local surveillance initiative to determine the prevalence of health conditions among adult residents of New York City.


METHODS
Modeled after the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the survey was initiated in June 2004 as a population-based cross-sectional study of New York City adults aged 20 and older. The survey was designed using a three-stage cluster sampling plan; 4026 households were randomly selected. Selected households were visited, and residents were given an initial eligibility screening questionnaire. Eligible participants were asked to schedule an appointment at an NYC-HANES-dedicated health center to complete the NYC HANES. A completed survey was defined as completion of a demographic interview and at least one examination component. Health conditions examined included cholesterol levels, diabetes status, blood pressure, environmental biomarkers, depression, anxiety, and antibodies to infectious diseases.


RESULTS
Of the 4026 households approached, eligibility screening questionnaires were completed for 3388 (84%) households, and 3047 survey participants were identified. Of the 3047 participants, 76% made an appointment, and 66% completed the survey. The overall response rate was 55% (n = 1999).


CONCLUSIONS
NYC HANES is the first successful local-level examination survey modeled on NHANES. With periodic repetition, NYC HANES will provide surveillance information on leading causes of morbidity and mortality.
Thorpe
Lorna E
LE
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth St, Room 315, CN#6, New York, NY 10013, USA. lthorpe@health.nyc.gov
Gwynn
R Charon
RC
Mandel-Ricci
Jenna
J
Roberts
Sarah
S
Tsoi
Benjamin
B
Berman
Lew
L
Porter
Kathryn
K
Ostchega
Yechiam
Y
Curtain
Lester R
LR
Montaquila
Jill
J
Mohadjer
Leyla
L
Frieden
Thomas R
TR
D003625:Data Collection; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009519:New York City; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires