UNC Charlotte Hosts One of Nation’s Largest Health Studies

The early numbers are back on the in-depth national health study that set up an outpost on UNC Charlotte’s campus over the summer.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is one of the largest and longest running surveys of America’s health and nutritional status. In operation since the early 1960s and operating continuously since 1999, NHANES examines about 5,000 people a year, providing a plethora of valuable data to health professionals, researchers and policy makers nationwide.

Mecklenburg was among 15 counties selected as a survey location this year.

NHANES field teams conducted more than 300 in-home interviews across the area, and about the same number visited the mobile examination center on campus for a comprehensive physical exam. CHHS Dean Nancy Fey-Yensan worked with numerous UNC Charlotte divisions to secure the space and resources for the NHANES mobile center. She said the data the survey collects are “like gold” to CHHS researchers.

“NHANES has been and continues to be absolutely essential in yielding scientifically derived, foundational data that is used to identify the health care needs of a rapidly changing population in the US. It is the most comprehensive, valid and reliable health data set in America.”

“The data set is accessible to our researchers who can look at it and examine current population health trends and ask, and importantly, answer, the most salient health questions for the populations we serve,” Dean Fey-Yensan added.

​NHANES survey participants are randomly selected, interviewed at home and then visit the mobile health center for a thorough examination. The interview includes questions on topics like demographics, socioeconomic status and diet. The physical exam consists of a battery of medical, dental and physiological tests. Findings are used to look at the prevalence of and risk factors for major diseases and inform a wide range of health and nutrition outreach programs.

George Zipf, operations branch chief for NHANES, said the program is an “unusually rich source of information for researchers and policy makers.”

“The richness of the data on any one survey participant combined with the fact that NHANES has collected this data on roughly 80,000 survey participants since 1999 makes NHANES a national data treasure,” he added.

Securing survey participants is a challenge for NHANES. Though participants are paid for their time, Zipf noted, “people are busy and sometimes wary of being in a survey. We understand the reasons for non-participation, and so we always seek the support of public institutions to give us additional legitimacy,” he said.

Mecklenburg County Health Department Health Director Dr. Marcus Plescia helped bring the program to UNC Charlotte’s campus. Plescia lauded the relationship between the health department and CHHS, calling it “vital for successfully addressing major projects, and in ongoing collaborations,” such as joint grant applications and internships.

Dean Fey-Yensan agreed, saying the relationship was pivotal in connecting NHANES with the University and the College. She noted also that UNC Charlotte and NHANES are common sense colleagues, in that for NHANES, “having partners who understand the complexities of research protocols, data security and client confidentiality is important to achieving their goals and producing quality results.”

The National Institutes of Health, The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are among those organizations that rely on NHANES data to shape their activities.

Program findings have been the basis of significant public health interventions. In the 1970s, high levels of blood lead in NHANES participants convinced lawmakers to eliminate the heavy metal from gasoline and soft drink cans. More recently, figures on the prevalence of weight issues nationwide have driven outreach and educational programs encouraging exercise and a healthy diet. Researchers are also combing NHANES data to better understand why rates of cardiovascular disease are falling.

Dr. Plescia, the Mecklenburg County Health Director, said UNC Charlotte’s role in supporting the project was well appreciated.

“Thank you does not begin to express our gratitude for the leadership shown by UNC Charlotte in facilitating NHANES’ ability to gather data in our community. The across the board logistical support and welcoming attitude of UNC Charlotte personnel was repeatedly noted by the NHANES staff.”

NHANES is conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a federal agency that gathers data to inform health policy decisions nationwide. NCHS operates under the Centers for Disease Control.

by: Wills Citty