Design and Implementation of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Abstract

PURPOSE The Hispanic Community Health Study (HCHS)/Study of Latinos (SOL) is a comprehensive multi-center community based cohort study of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. Its rationale, objectives, design and implementation are described in this paper. METHODS The HCHS/SOL will recruit 16,000 men and women who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino, age 18-74 years, from a random sample of households in defined communities in the Bronx, Chicago, Miami and San Diego. The sites were selected so that the overall sample would consist of at least 2000 persons in each of the following origin designations: Mexican, Puerto Rican and Dominican, Cuban, and Central and South American. The study includes research in the prevalence of and risk factors for heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders, kidney and liver function, diabetes, cognitive function, dental conditions, and hearing disorders. CONCLUSIONS The HCHS/SOL will 1) characterize the health status and disease burden in the largest minority population in the U.S; 2) describe the positive and negative consequences of immigration and acculturation of Hispanics/Latinos to the mainstream U.S. life-styles, environment and health care opportunities; and 3) identify likely causal factors of many diseases in a population with diverse environmental exposures, genetic backgrounds and early life experiences.

Validity of cardiovascular risk prediction models in Latin America and among Hispanics in the United States of America: a systematic review

“…There are now a few cohort studies that could be imminently useful: in the United States, the Design and Implementation of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (30); and in Latin America, the CESCAS I study in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay (31) …”

Statin and Aspirin Use Among Hispanic and Latino Adults at High Cardiovascular Risk: Findings From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

“…Of 39 384 persons who were screened and selected and who met the eligibility criteria, 16 415 were enrolled for the study. The sample design, cohort selection, and study implementation were described previously 9. The current analyses excluded 911 participants who were missing information on CVD and 590 participants who did not self‐identify as any of the 6 aforementioned Hispanic/Latino groups (Figure 1).…”

“…Acculturation was also assessed using a modified version of the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics, which captured the degree of adaptation to new physical, cultural, social, and economic environments; proxy measures of acculturation (years of residence in the United States, nativity, and language preference) were also assessed 9. Insurance status was derived based on responses to the question, “What type of health insurance or health care coverage do you have?” Responses included the following 4 categories: none, private (employer‐sponsored or individual plan), public (Medicare, Medicaid, or military or US Department of Veterans Affairs), or other.…”

Cigarette Smoking and Depressive Symptoms Among Hispanic/Latino Adults: Results From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

“…A detailed description of the study design and methods has been published. 13 At the time of enrollment, participants had to self-identify as Hispanic and be between 18 and 74 years old. A detailed description of the sample design and cohort selection has been published.…”