Cross-sectional analysis of the Wayne State University/Wayne Health mobile health unit program, which conducted screening at over 1,000 locations across metropolitan Detroit between July 2021 and September 2025. In voluntary adult participants: median BP 122/75 mm Hg, LDL cholesterol 103 mg/dL, HbA1c 5.7%. About half had elevated BP (48%; n=6,182/12,821) or LDL ≥100 mg/dL (54%; n=3,860/7,115); 16% had HbA1c ≥6.5%. Among 5,393 participants with all four measurements, only 4% had an ideal cardiometabolic risk profile (SBP <120, LDL <70, HbA1c <5.7%), while 70% had at least one uncontrolled risk factor. Older age predicted all four; Black race predicted uncontrolled BP; male sex predicted uncontrolled BP and HbA1c. Mobile units are a valuable tool for detection and targeted intervention in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
