Phase I of the study (September 2006 to May 2013) was sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and six other institutes, centers, and offices of the National Institutes of Health.

The baseline examination took place between 2008 and 2011 and lasted between 7 to 8 hours. It included extensive assessments of risk factors for cardiovascular, pulmonary, liver, kidney, and other diseases. Information on demographic, socioeconomic, sociocultural, lifestyle, and other factors that may influence disease risk was also collected. Sleep, dental, and hearing evaluations were conducted along with blood tests and electrocardiograms; participants took home sleep monitors to wear for one night, as well as portable activity monitors to wear for a period of 7 days. Participants have been followed by annual phone calls or home visits for up to four years to assess any health-related events (hospitalizations, etc.) or changes in their health.

In February 2014, results of Phase I were shared with participants, community leaders, and the media through a booklet published by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, entitled “About Our Health: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos,” that summarized the findings for a lay audience.

Selected findings from Phase I of the HCHS/SOL

• Eighty percent of men and 71 percent of women had at least one adverse risk factor for cardiovascular disease such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity diabetes, or smoking
• The percentage with obesity was high among all Hispanic/Latino groups but was lowest among participants of South American origin
• Among younger participants few had diabetes, but among participants ages 65-74 almost half had diabetes. About half of the men and women with diabetes had their diabetes under control
• About half of all Hispanic/Latino men and women with diabetes had their diabetes under control
• Men were more likely than women to eat enough fruits and vegetables per day
• Hispanic/Latino women, especially those ages 45-64, were more likely to report having symptoms of depression than men
  Chicago
• Nearly half of participants ages 45-64 were at high risk for diabetes
• One in three participants with diabetes were unaware that they had diabetes
• Women were more likely than men to know they had high blood pressure
• About 40 percent of participants ages 18-44 were obese
• About 57 percent of Chicago participants age 18-64 lacked health insurance, trailing only Miami, where 71 percent were without coverage
• On average, women ages 45-64 spent only nine minutes each day in recreational physical activity