Mobile Health Unit Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged Urban Communities Detects Uncontrolled Cardiometabolic Risk Factors.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Awareness and control of cardiometabolic disease risk factors remain suboptimal in the United States. Mobile health units may improve detection, particularly in socially disadvantaged urban communities. METHODS: The Wayne State University/Wayne Health mobile health units program has conducted screening events across metropolitan Detroit (>1000 locations) since 2020. Adults ≥18 years undergo medical history assessment and may elect blood pressure (BP) and laboratory testing. We conducted a serial cross-sectional analysis of electronic health records data from July 26, 2021 to September 8, 2025 to characterize the population screened. RESULTS: The median BP (122/75 mm Hg), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (103 mg/dL) and hemoglobin A1c (5.7%) were modestly elevated. Roughly half of the population had high BP (systolic ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic ≥80 mm Hg; 48%; n=6182/12821) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels ≥100 mg/dL (54%; n=3860/7115), whereas 16% had hemoglobin A1c levels ≥6.5% (n=1137/7061). Among individuals with all 4 results (n=5393), only 4% had an ideal cardiometabolic disease risk profile (systolic BP <120 mm Hg + low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol <70 mg/dL + hemoglobin A1c <5.7%). Conversely, 70% had ≥1 uncontrolled cardiometabolic disease risk factor(s) (systolic BP ≥130 mm Hg or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ≥100 mg/dL or hemoglobin A1c ≥7.0%). Older age was associated with all 4 risk factors being uncontrolled, whereas Black race was associated with uncontrolled BP and male sex with both uncontrolled BP and HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: Population screening using mobile health unit-based outreach identified a high burden of cardiometabolic disease abnormalities in socially disadvantaged urban communities. These programs are potentially valuable for improving detection and enabling targeted interventions to reduce health disparities.