At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- Originally modeled after the National Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
- Among the most robust sources of health data specific to a major metropolitan area.
- Topics include general health status and mental health, health care access, cardiovascular health, diabetes, asthma, immunizations, nutrition and physical activity, smoking, HIV, sexual behavior, alcohol consumption, cancer screening, social determinants of health, and other health topics.
- Includes a core group of demographics variables every year to facilitate weighting and comparisons among different groups of New Yorkers. Health estimates are available annually at the city, borough, and United Hospital Fund (UHF) neighborhood levels and available every two-years at the Community District (CD) level. CDs are the smallest level of local government with budgetary power.
Website
http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-sets/community-health-survey.page
Purpose
To collect data about chronic diseases and behavioral risk factors from adults in New York City.
Target Population
Civilian, non-institutionalized adults ages 18 and older from all five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island).
Conducted
Began in 2002. Conducted annually. Most recent year conducted was 2019. Data collected via telephone with trained interviewers.
Sponsor
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Epidemiology, Bureau of Epidemiology Services.
Sampling
Sample Design
Cross-sectional, stratified random sample. Learn more about the sampling design.
Source of Information
A computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) system is used to collect the survey data.
Sample Size
Approximately 10,000 individuals.
Special Note(s)
The survey sampling methodology does not capture the following groups: Households with no telephone service and, before 2009, households that had only cell phone service. The CHS also excludes adults living in institutional group housing, such as college dormitories. Starting in 2009, adults living in households with only cell phone service were included in the survey.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name |
|---|
| Age |
| Sex |
| Race/ethnicity |
| Marital status |
| Employment status |
| Household poverty |
| Education |
| Health status |
| Sexual orientation and Gender Identity for select years. |
Diet-Related
| Name |
|---|
| Fruit/vegetable consumption |
| Sugary drink consumption |
| Sexual orientation and Gender Identity for select years. |
Physical Activity-Related
| Name |
|---|
| Active transportation |
| Physical activity/exercise |
| Bicycle use |
| Sugar-sweetened soda consumption |
Sleep-Related
| Name |
|---|
| Daytime fatigue/sleepiness and/or alertness |
| Schedule-related sleep environment: Other |
| Sleep disordered breathing: Sleep position (back, side, etc.) |
| Sleep disorders: Sleep apnea |
| Sleep disturbances and quality: Subjective satisfaction |
| Sleep disturbances and quality: Other (list variable) |
| Sleep duration and quantity: Total sleep time during workdays/schooldays |
| Sleep duration and quantity: Total sleep time |
| Sleep-related substance use: Nicotine (e.g., smoking, juuling, vaping) |
| Sleep-related substance use: Other (alcohol, tranquilizer, pain medication, ecstasy) |
| Social sleep environment: Other (bed bugs) |
| Social sleep environment: Sleep location (e.g., living room) |
Weight-Related
| Name |
|---|
| Stair use |
Geocode/Linkage
| Name |
|---|
| Borough |
| BMI |
| Zip code |
| High-risk neighborhood status |
Other
| Name |
|---|
| Blood cholesterol |
| Blood pressure |
| High-risk neighborhood status |
| Social Cohesion |
| Neighborhood Characteristics |
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Obtain data by visiting the CHS website. Some variables such as gender identity, additional race/ethnicity variables, and geographic variables require a Data Use Agreement. Please contact: EpiDataRequest@health.nyc.gov
Cost
Free.
Special Note(s)
Data also can be accessed from EpiQuery, a web-based interactive query tool.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
Borough, Zip code, , UHF, Community District available with a Data Use Agreement. Email epidatarequest@health.nyc.gov.
Existing Linkages
None found.
Selected Publications
Click here for a full list of publications.
General
Borrell LN, Menendez BS, Joseph SP. Racial/ethnic disparities on self-reported hypertension in New York City: examining disparities among Hispanic subgroups. Ethnicity & Disease 2011 Autumn;21(4):429-436.
Jack D, Neckerman K, Schwartz-Soicher O, Lovasi GS, Quinn J, Richards C, Bader M, Weiss C, Konty K, Arno P, Viola D, Kerker B, Rundle A. Socio-economic status, neighbourhood food environments and consumption of fruits and vegetables in New York City. Public Health Nutrition 2013;6:1-9.
Tabaei BP, Chamany S, Driver CR, Kerker B, Silver L. Incidence of self-reported diabetes in New York City, 2002, 2004, and 2008 . Preventing Chronic Disease 2012;9:E114.
Yaemsiri S, Olson EC, He K, Kerker BD. Food concern and its associations with obesity and diabetes among lower-income New Yorkers. Public Health Nutrition 2012;15(1):39-47.
Resources
Codebook, Questionnaire and additional information: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-sets/community-health-survey-public-use-data.page
EpiQuery Interactive Health Data Tool: https://a816-healthpsi.nyc.gov/epiquery/
Publications and Reports: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/publications.page
