About the New York City Health & Nutrition Examination Survey | NYU Langone Health

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New York City Health & Nutrition Examination Survey About the New York City Health & Nutrition Examination Survey

About the New York City Health & Nutrition Examination Survey

The New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES) is a local version of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), an important health survey begun by the federal government in the 1960s. In 2012, Tom Frieden, MD, then director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, described the importance of the “gold standard NHANES” in identifying health problems in the United States and tracking how well the country is addressing them. In addition to gathering information from participant survey responses, NHANES also includes brief physical exams and tests on blood and urine samples. The survey’s results have led to many important health programs and policy changes.

2004 NYC HANES

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) conducted the first NYC HANES in 2004. Through a detailed health survey and a brief physical exam, the NYC HANES collected data from nearly 2,000 New Yorkers. Since the first survey was conducted in 2004, researchers have published more than 20 scientific articles. Those research articles led to action that has improved the health of all New York City residents; some articles also contributed to the national conversation about public health.

Researchers used this initial survey data to learn more about how many New Yorkers have health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression and how well these conditions are controlled. They have also learned about environmental exposures, including second-hand tobacco smoke, lead, and mercury. Findings from the study have led to changes in New York City laws and regulations as well as to educational campaigns to improve the health of New Yorkers. Learn more about the 2004 NYC HANES.

2013–2014 NYC HANES

The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy and the NYC DOHMH conducted a second NYC HANES with grant funding in 2013 to 2014. Adults from nearly 3,000 randomly selected New York City households were asked to answer survey questions and take a physical exam to provide a picture of city residents’ health almost 10 years after the first NYC HANES. This enabled researchers to examine changes in resident health over two points in time and assess the impact of several important health policy initiatives that have occurred since 2004.

More than 20 scientific articles have been published since the survey was completed. Findings from these articles provided public health professionals and elected officials the information they need to develop and fund new health programs, introduce new health regulations and new laws, and educate the public about increasing health risks.

Contact Us

For more information and general inquiries about the NYC HANES, please email nychanes@nyulangone.org.