Study Overview

HCHS/SOL

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Study Overview

The Hispanic Community Health Study / Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) is a multi-center epidemiologic study in Hispanic/Latino populations focused on assessing the role of acculturation in the prevalence and development of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and identifying factors playing protective or harmful roles in the health of Hispanic/Latino adults in the US.

Between 2008 and 2011, HCHS/SOL enrolled 16,415 Hispanic/Latino adults aged 18-74 years from four U.S. communities: the Bronx, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and San Diego, California. Participants represent diverse backgrounds, including Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American, and South American heritage groups. After the baseline visit, HCHS/SOL completed two in-person clinic visits: Visit 2 (2014–2017) and Visit 3 (2020–2024). A fourth in-person visit (Visit 4) is planned for September 2027 through August 2030.

Clinic visits

  • Visit 1 (2008–2011; n=16,415)
  • Visit 2 (2014–2017; n=11,623)
  • Visit 3 (2020–2024; n=9,090)
     
Map of US showing four HCHS clinical sites

Study Goals

HCHS/SOL was designed to:

  • Measure the prevalence and burden of major chronic diseases and health conditions among Hispanic/Latino populations.
  • Identify risk and protective factors for cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, and other health outcomes.
  • Understand how social, cultural, behavioral, environmental, and biological factors influence health.
  • Examine differences in health outcomes across Hispanic/Latino background groups.
  • Provide a scientific resource to improve prevention, treatment, and health equity for Hispanic/Latino communities.

Annual Follow-Up

Follow-up interviews are conducted annually to identify cardiovascular (heart failure, myocardial infarction and stroke) and pulmonary hospitalizations, and deaths. In addition to identifying health events, the annual follow-up helps maintain cohort engagement, update contact information, and supports high retention over time.

Importance of the HCHS/SOL

Prior to the HCHS/SOL, there were a lack of objective, comprehensive data on prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other chronic diseases and their associated risk factors among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults in the US, particularly by heritage background. Earlier research largely included Hispanic/Latino persons examined as a homogenous group; the few studies that distinguished among Hispanic/Latino groups were limited in sample size; and longitudinal data were lacking. The landmark HCHS/SOL – to date, the most comprehensive, longitudinal study of diverse Hispanic/Latino persons in the US -- has made critical and sizeable contributions to understanding the prevalence of and changes in CVD risk and protective factors and the burden of CVD, pulmonary, and other related chronic conditions by Hispanic/Latino background. It is unique in its inclusion of all major Hispanic/Latino background groups, many of whom were immigrants to the U.S.

HCHS/SOL has proven to be a very fruitful study over its lifespan. Over 35 ancillary studies contacting participants directly and over 50 requesting stored biospecimens have spun off the parent study, focusing on areas such as cardiovascular health, childhood metabolism and obesity, vascular aging, cognitive decline, asthma, liver disease, diabetes, the gut microbiome, physical activity and sedentary behavior, sleep quality, vision health, and the influence of social and environmental factors on health. The core visits collected data in the full cohort, but most ancillary studies included a subsample of the cohort. See Pirzada et al for an overview of the study and specific measures.

HCHS/SOL parent study is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), with significant contributions from other institutes, centers, and offices of the National Institutes of Health.