COMMUNITY HEALTH PROFILES 2015

Brooklyn Community District 5:

EAST NEW YORK

AND
STARRETT CITY
(Including Broadway Junction, City Line,
Cypress Hills, East New York, New Lots,
Spring Creek and Starrett City)

Health is rooted in the circumstances of our daily lives and the environments
in which we are born, grow, play, work, love and age. Understanding how
community conditions affect our physical and mental health is the first
step toward building a healthier New York City.

183,971
EAST NEW YORK AND STARRETT CITY TOTAL POPULATION

WHO WE
ARE

4
5
6
7
8
POPULATION BY RACE and ETHNICITY

52% Black*

10

37% Hispanic
6% Asian*
3% White*
2% Other*

Population By AGE

28%

27%

12%
017

0 - 17

1824
18-24

NYC

23%

11%
2544
25-44

4564
45-64

65+
65+

Percent who reported

their own health
as EXCELLENT,
VERY GOOD or GOOD

74%

35%
NYC

ARE
FOREIGN
BORN

HAVE LIMITED
ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY

16%

LIFE EXPECTANCY

77.7
YEARS

* Non-Hispanic
Note: Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding
Sources: Overall population, race and age: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates, 2013; Foreign born and English proficiency: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2013; Self-reported health: NYC DOHMH Community Health Survey,
COMM
UN
T Y H ENYC
A LT
H PR
OofFIL
S 2 02003-2012
1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y
2011-2013;
LifeI Expectancy:
DOHMH
Bureau
Vital E
Statistics,

Note from Dr. Mary Bassett,

Commissioner, New York City Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene
New York City is a city of neighborhoods. Their diversity, rich history
and people are what make this city so special.
But longstanding and rising income inequality, combined with a
history of racial residential segregation, has led to startling health
inequities between neighborhoods. Poor health outcomes tend
to cluster in places that people of color call home and where many
residents live in poverty. Life expectancy in Brownsville, for example,
is 11 years shorter than in the Financial District. And this is not because
residents of Brownsville are dying of unusual diseases, but because
they are dying of the same diseases mostly heart disease and
cancer at younger ages and at higher rates.
This is unfair and avoidable. A persons health should not be
determined by his or her ZIP code.
Reducing health inequities requires policymakers, health
professionals, researchers and community groups to advocate and
work together for systemic change. In One New York: The Plan for
a Strong and Just City (OneNYC), Mayor Bill de Blasio has outlined a
vision to transform this city, and every neighborhood, guided by the
principles of growth, equity, sustainability and resiliency.
Our communities are not simply made up of individual behaviors, but
are dynamic places where individuals interact with each other, with
their immediate environments and with the policies that shape those
environments. The Community Health Profiles include indicators that
reflect a broad set of conditions that impact health.
Our hope is that you will use the data and information in these
Community Health Profiles to advocate for your neighborhoods.

Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

Navigating
this document
This profile covers all of Brooklyn
Community District 5, which
includes Broadway Junction,
City Line, Cypress Hills, East New
York, New Lots, Spring Creek
and Starrett City, but the name is
shortened to just East New York
and Starrett City. This is one
of 59 community districts in
New York City (NYC).

Community districts are ranked

on each indicator. The highest
rank (#1) corresponds to the
largest value for a given measure.
Sometimes a high rank indicates
a positive measure of health
(e.g., ranking first in flu
vaccination). Other times, it
indicates a negative measure
of health (e.g., ranking first in
the premature death rate).

The following color coding

system is used throughout
this document:

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Who we are

PAGE 2

NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONS

PAGE 5

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC

CONDITIONS

PAGEs 6 and 7

Healthy living

PAGEs 8 and 9

HEALTH CARE

PAGE 10

Health Outcomes

PAGEs 11, 12 and 13

EAST NEW YORK AND

STARRETT CITY

BEST-PERFORMING
COMMUNITY DISTRICT

NOTES

PAGES 14 AND 15

BROOKLYN
NEW YORK CITY

MAP AND CONTACT

INFORMATION

BACK COVER

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

Housing quality
Poorly maintained housing is associated with negative health outcomes, including asthma and
other respiratory illnesses, injuries and poor mental health. A higher percentage of homes in
East New York and Starrett City than homes citywide have maintenance defects.

Maintenance defects

(percent of renter-occupied homes with at least one maintenance defect)

NEIGHBORHOOD
CONDITIONS

100%

Maintenance defects include water leaks, cracks and holes, inadequate

heating, presence of mice or rats, toilet breakdowns and peeling paint.

BROOKLYN
62%
NYC
59%

50%

Where we live
determines the
quality of the air we
breathe, the homes
we live in, how safe
we feel, what kinds
of food we can
easily access
and more.

0%

Tottenville and Great Kills

18%
(RANKS 59TH)

East New York and

Starrett City
70%
(RANKS 17TH)

NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey, 2011

Air pollution
Although NYC air quality is improving, air pollution, such as fine particles (PM2.5), can cause
health problems, particularly among the very young, seniors and those with preexisting health
57 56 55 54New
53 52 51 50 49
48 47 46 45 44
43 42 41 40
39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32
31 30 29 28 levels
27 26 25 24 23 22of
21 20PM
19 18 17 16 15 ,14 the
09 08 07 06 05harmful
04 03 02 01
conditions. In59 58East
York
and
Starrett
City,
air pollutant,
2.5 13 12 11 10most
are 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter, compared with 8.7 in Brooklyn and 8.6 citywide.

Air pollution (micrograms of fine particulate matter per cubic meter)

8.7

7.6

8.7

8.6

East New York and

Starrett City

Rockaway and
Broad Channel

Brooklyn

NYC

(RANKS 34TH)

(RANKS 59TH)

NYC DOHMH, Community Air Survey, 2013

Retail environment
When healthy
foods are readily
available, it is
easier to make
healthy choices.

The prevalence of tobacco retailers in East New York and Starrett City is similar to the prevalence
citywide. Supermarket access in East New York and Starrett City is similar to access citywide,
with 180 square feet per 100 people.

Tobacco retailers

Supermarket square footage

(per 10,000 population)

13

(per 100 population)

East New York and

Starrett City

Bayside and
Little Neck

(RANKS 16TH)

11

Brooklyn

180

450

(RANKS 59TH)

East New York and

Starrett City
ND
(RANKS 22 )

South Beach and

Willowbrook
(RANKS 1ST)

11

156

177

NYC

NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, 2014

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

Brooklyn

NYC

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, 2014

Adult educational attainment

In East New York and Starrett City, about one in five adults has a college degree;
however, one in four has not completed high school.

Highest level of education attained (adults 25 years and older)

EAST NEW YORK AND
STARRETT CITY

Social and
Economic
Conditions

FINANCIAL DISTRICT &

GREENWICH VILLAGE AND SOHO
84%
College graduate

19%
College graduate
57%
High school graduate
or some college

12%
High school graduate
or some college

24%
Less than high school

4%
Less than high school

NEW YORK CITY

BROOKLYN

Higher education
levels are associated
with better health
outcomes.

38%
College graduate

41%
College graduate

41%
High school graduate
or some college

39%
High school graduate
or some college

21%
Less than high school

20%
Less than high school

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2013

A third of East New

York and Starrett
City residents live
below the Federal
Poverty Level; the
districts poverty
rate is higher than
the Brooklyn and
citywide rates.

Income
Living in poverty limits healthy lifestyle choices and makes it difficult to access health
care and resources that can promote health and prevent illness. Unemployment and
unaffordable housing are also closely associated with poverty and poor health. About one
in seven East New York and Starrett City adults ages 16 and older is unemployed, and
half of all residents spend more than 30% of their monthly gross income on rent.
One way to consider the effect of income on health is by comparing death rates among
neighborhoods. Assuming that the death rates from the five neighborhoods with the
highest income are achievable in East New York and Starrett City, it is estimated that
40% of deaths could have been averted.

Economic stress
East New York and Best-performing
community district
Starrett City

Poverty

Unemployment

32%

(RANKS 11TH)

14%

(RANKS 17TH)

6%

Tottenville and Great Kills

Brooklyn

NYC

24%

21%

11%

11%

52%

51%

(RANKS 59TH)

5%

Greenwich Village and Soho

& Financial District
(RANKS 58TH)

Rent
burden

50%

(RANKS 39TH)

37%

Greenwich Village and Soho

& Financial District
(RANKS 58TH)

Poverty, unemployment and rent burden : U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2013; Avertable deaths: NYC DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics 2008-2012

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

Children and adolescents

The littlest New Yorkers all deserve the same opportunities for health. In East New York
and Starrett City, the rate of preterm births, a key driver of infant death, is the fourthhighest in the city, the teen birth rate is higher than the city average, and the rate of
elementary school absenteeism is eighth-highest in the city.

Social and
Economic
Conditions

Preterm births

11.6

5.7*

8.8

9.0

East New York

and Starrett City

Midtown

Brooklyn

NYC

24.0

23.6

Brooklyn

NYC

19

20

Brooklyn

NYC

(percent of all live births)

(RANKS 4 )

Teen births

(per 1,000 girls ages 15-19)

Child and
adolescent health
are a signal of
a communitys
current well-being
and potential.

(RANKS 59TH)

TH

34.1

1.1*

East New York Financial

and Starrett City District
(RANKS 11TH)

Elementary school
absenteeism

(RANKS 59TH)

30

(percent of students missing

20 or more school days)

4
East New York
and Starrett City
(RANKS 8 )
TH

Financial
District
(RANKS 59 )
TH

* Interpret estimate with caution due to small number of events

Preterm births: NYC DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 2013; Teen births: NYC DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 2011-2013; Absenteeism: NYC Department of Education, 2013-2014

People who are

Incarceration
incarcerated have
Jail incarceration (per 100,000 adults ages 16 and older)
higher rates of
400
mental illness,
The incarceration rate in East New York and
drug and alcohol
Starrett City is almost twice the Brooklyn
and citywide rates.
addiction and other
200
health conditions.
0

Non-fatal assault
hospitalizations
capture the
consequences
of community
violence.

Queens Village
5*

BROOKLYN
96
NYC
93

East New York and

Starrett City
181

(RANKS 59TH)

(RANKS 11TH)

NYC Department of Corrections, 2014

*Interpret estimate with caution due to small number of events

Violence

The injury assault rate in East New York and Starrett City is almost twice the citywide rate.

Non-fatal assault hospitalizations (per 100,000 population)

59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01

120

11

66

64

East New York and

Starrett City

Rego Park and

Forest Hills

Brooklyn

NYC

(RANKS 10TH)

(RANKS 59TH)

New York State Department of Health, Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, 2011-2013

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

Self-reported health
People are good at rating their own health. When asked to rate their overall health on a
scale of one to five (excellent, very good, good, fair or poor), 74% of East New York and
Starrett City residents rate their health as excellent,very good or good.

HEALTHY
Living

Percent who self-reported their own health as excellent,

very good or good

74%
East New York and
Starrett City
(RANKS 41 )

92%

75%

78%

Upper East Side

Brooklyn

New York City

(RANKS 1ST)

ST

NYC DOHMH, Community Health Survey, 2011-2013

Smoking, diet and physical activity

Smoking, poor quality diet and physical inactivity are risk factors for high blood
pressure, diabetes and other problems. Adults in East New York and Starrett City
smoke and are physically active at rates similar to residents of Brooklyn and the city as a
whole. However, adults in East New York and Starrett City are more likely to consume
sugary drinks and less likely to eat fruits and vegetables than residents of Brooklyn or
the city.
East New York and
Starrett City

Adults in
East New York
and Starrett City
are almost three
times as likely to
consume sugary
beverages as
Stuyvesent
Town and Turtle
Bay adults.

Current
smokers

1 or more
12 oz sugary
drink per day

At least one
serving of
fruits or
vegetables
per day

Any physical
activity in the
last 30 days

17%
(RANKS 21ST)

Best-performing
community district

Brooklyn

NYC

10%

16%

15%

27%

27%

87%

88%

75%

77%

East Flatbush
(RANKS 59TH)

34%
(RANKS 15TH)

12%

Stuyvesant Town
and Turtle Bay
(RANKS 59TH)

81%
(RANKS 48 )
TH

95%*
Bayside and
Little Neck
(RANKS 1ST)

73%
(RANKS 45TH)

90%

Clinton and
Chelsea & Midtown
(RANKS 1ST)

*Interpret estimate with caution due to small sample size

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

All: NYC DOHMH, Community Health Survey, 2011-2013

Obesity and diabetes

Obesity can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. At 31%, the
rate of obesity in East New York and Starrett City is almost four times the rate in Stuyvesant
Town and Turtle Bay. The diabetes rate in East New York and Starrett City is 18%, the
highest percentage in the city.

HEALTHY
Living

Exercise is one
way to maintain
a healthy weight.
Federal guidelines
say that children
should get 60
minutes of exercise
per day, adults
should get 150
minutes per week,
and older adults
should get 150
minutes per week
as their physical
abilities allow, with
a focus on exercises
to improve balance.

Obesity (percent of adults)

EAST NEW
YORK AND
STARRETT CITY
(RANKS 15TH)

31%

STUYVESANT
TOWN AND
TURTLE BAY
(RANKS 59TH)

8%

BROOKLYN

27%

NYC

24%

Diabetes (percent of adults)

EAST NEW
YORK AND
STARRETT CITY
(RANKS 1ST)

STUYVESANT
TOWN AND
TURTLE BAY
(RANKS 59TH)

18%
3%

BROOKLYN

11%

NYC

10%

NYC DOHMH, Community Health Survey, 2011-2013

NYC DOHMH, Community Health Survey, 2011-2013

Substance use
Drug- and/or alcohol-related hospitalizations reflect acute and chronic consequences
of substance misuse. In East New York and Starrett City, such hospitalization rates are
higher than the rates in Brooklyn and NYC.

Alcohol-related hospitalizations (per 100,000 adults)

1,534

1,041

1,019

Brooklyn

NYC

233
East New York and
Starrett City
(RANKS 13TH)

Bayside and
Little Neck
(RANKS 59TH)

New York State Department of Health, Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, 2012

Drug-related hospitalizations (per 100,000 adults)

1,435
East New York and
Starrett City
(RANKS 13TH)

159
Rego Park and
Forest Hills

921

907

Brooklyn

NYC

(RANKS 59TH)

New York State Department of Health, Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, 2012

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

Access to health care

A lack of quality health care can lead to negative health outcomes and more
intensive treatment, such as avoidable hospitalizations. More than a quarter of adults
in East New York and Starrett City have no health insurance, higher than the
citywide rate. The rate of late or no prenatal care in East New York and Starrett City
is higher than the Brooklyn and the citywide rates.

HEALTH CARE
Prior to 2014,
the rate of adults
without health
insurance in East
New York and
Starrett City was
26%; however, this
rate is expected to
decrease due to the
implementation
of the Affordable
Care Act.

No health
insurance

Went without
needed medical care

(percent of adults)
EAST NEW
YORK AND
STARRETT CITY

(percent of adults)
EAST NEW
YORK AND
STARRETT CITY

26%

(RANKS 8TH)

(percent of live births)

EAST NEW
YORK AND
STARRETT CITY

11.4%

(RANKS 5TH)

(RANKS 14TH)

5%

TOTTENVILLE
AND GREAT
KILLS
(RANKS 59TH)

1.3%

TOTTENVILLE
AND GREAT
KILLS
(RANKS 59TH)

8%

UPPER
EAST SIDE
(RANKS 59TH)

BROOKLYN

20%

BROOKLYN

12%

BROOKLYN

6.4%

NYC

20%

NYC

11%

NYC

7.4%

NYC DOHMH, Community Health Survey, 2011-2013

HPV infection
causes cancers
that can be
prevented by
the HPV vaccine.
Boys and girls
should receive
the vaccine at
11 to 12 years of
age, prior to HPV
exposure and
when the vaccine
is most effective.

15%

Late or no
prenatal care

NYC DOHMH, Community Health Survey, 2011-2013

NYC DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 2013

Prevention and screening

Compared with teens citywide, teenaged girls from East New York and Starrett City
are less likely to receive the full human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series. Adults in
East New York and Starrett City get tested for HIV and receive flu vaccinations at rates
similar to the rates citywide.
HPV vaccination

(Percent of girls ages 13-17 years

who have received all 3 doses of
the HPV vaccine)

East New York

and Starrett City

Best-performing
district

Flu vaccination

(Percent of adults)

38%

38%

(RANKS 33RD)

(RANKS 31ST)

63%

Hunts Point and

Longwood
(RANKS 1ST)

50%
50

Mott Haven a
and Melrose &
Hunts Point a
and Longwood
(RANK
(RANKS 1ST)

Ever tested for HIV

(Percent of adults)

68%

(RANKS 20TH)

83%

Fordham and
University Heights
(RANKS 1ST)

Brooklyn

36%

36%

61%

NYC

43%

40%

62%

NYC DOHMH, Citywide Immunization Registry, 2014

NYC DOHMH, Community Health Survey, 2011-2013

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

NYC DOHMH, Community Health Survey, 2011-2013

10

New HIV diagnoses

Some people with HIV do not know that they are infected. Getting diagnosed is the first
step in the treatment and care of HIV. East New York and Starrett City ranks sixteenth in
the rate of new HIV diagnoses.

New HIV diagnoses (per 100,000 population)

Health
Outcomes

120

60

NYC
30.4

People diagnosed
with HIV who
enter care and
start antiviral
medications live
longer, healthier
lives and are
less likely to
transmit HIV.

BROOKLYN
27.9

East New York and Starrett City

41.3
NYC DOHMH, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Registry, 2013

Stroke
High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke and the most important to control.
East New York and Starrett City ranks ninth-highest in the rate of stroke hospitalizations
59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01
in the city.

Hospitalizations due to stroke (per 100,000 adults)

414

140

344

319

East New York and

Starrett City

Greenwich Village
and Soho

Brooklyn

NYC

(RANKS 9TH)

(RANKS 59TH)

New York State Department of Health, Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, 2012

Mental health
Variations in hospitalization rates may reflect differences in rates of illness, access
to health care and other social and cultural factors. The rate of adult psychiatric
hospitalizations in East New York and Starrett City is higher than the Brooklyn and
NYC rates.

Psychiatric hospitalizations (per 100,000 adults)

1,030

259

East New York and

Starrett City

Financial
District

(RANKS 10TH)

734

684

Brooklyn

NYC

(RANKS 59TH)
New York State Department of Health, Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, 2012

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11

Child asthma
Many hospitalizations for asthma among children could be prevented by addressing
housing-related exposures to asthma triggers, including cockroaches, mice and
secondhand smoke. Good medical management can prevent asthma symptoms.
The asthma hospitalization rate among children ages 5 to 14 in East New York and
Starrett City is higher than the Brooklyn and citywide rates.

Health
Outcomes

Child asthma hospitalizations

(per 10,000 children ages 5-14)

EAST NEW YORK

AND
STARRETT CITY

50

(RANKS 18TH)

BOROUGH
PARK

(RANKS 59TH)

6
32

BROOKLYN

Certain
hospitalizations
for asthma and
diabetes can be
prevented by
high-quality
outpatient care
and are known
as avoidable
hospitalizations.

36

NYC

New York State Department of Health, Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, 2012-2013

Adult hospitalizations for asthma

The rate of avoidable adult asthma hospitalization in East New York and Starrett City is
higher than the Brooklyn and citywide rates.

Avoidable asthma hospitalizations (per 100,000 adults)

EAST NEW YORK
AND
STARRETT CITY

389

(RANKS 15TH)

46

GREENWICH
VILLAGE
AND SOHO
(RANKS 59TH)

263

BROOKLYN

249

NYC

New York State Department of Health, Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, 2012

Adult hospitalizations for diabetes

The rate of avoidable adult diabetes hospitalizations in East New York and Starrett City
is higher than the Brooklyn and citywide rates.

Avoidable diabetes hospitalizations (per 100,000 adults)

EAST NEW YORK
AND
STARRETT CITY

539

(RANKS 10TH)

GREENWICH
VILLAGE
AND SOHO

54

(RANKS 59TH)

BROOKLYN

NYC

357
312
New York State Department of Health, Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, 2012

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

12

Leading causes of death

The top causes of death for residents of East New York and Starrett City, as for most
New Yorkers, are heart disease and cancer. Death rates due to homicide and HIV are more
than twice the citywide rates.

Top causes of death and rates (per 100,000 population)

Health
Outcomes

East New York and Starrett City

RANK

RANK

DEATH RATE

Heart disease: 1,652

223.1

202.6

Cancer: 1,268

160.1

156.7

Diabetes mellitus: 267

34.9

20.6

Stroke: 206

26.4

18.8

Flu/pnemonia: 184

25.1

27.4

Lower respiratory diseases: 169

22.2

19.8

Hypertension: 168
HIV: 168

22.5

11.4

18.7

10

8.4

Homicide: 123

13.2

14

5.7

Accidents (excluding drug poisoning): 94

11.3

11.8

HIV is the seventh

most common
cause of death in
East New York
and Starrett City,
but it is only the
tenth leading cause
citywide.

New York City

CAUSE: NUMBER OF DEATHS

9
9
10

DEATH RATE

17 of Vital Statistics, 2009-2013

NYC DOHMH, Bureau
11

Infant mortality and premature death

Despite a decrease in infant mortality across the city, the rate in East New York and
Starrett City is higher than the Brooklyn and citywide rates and more than seven
times the rate in the Upper East Side.
Disparities in premature death (death before the age of 65) persist among
neighborhoods. The rate of premature death in East New York and Starrett City is
higher than the Brooklyn and citywide rates and more than three times the rate in the
Financial District.

Infant mortality rate

Premature mortality rate

(per 1,000 live births)

7.8

East New York

and Starrett City
(RANKS 5 )
TH

3.9

Brooklyn

(per 100,000 population)

1.0

Upper East Side

(RANKS 59TH)

4.7
NYC

NYC DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 2011-2013

*Interpret estimate with caution due to small number of events

COMM U N I T Y H E A LT H PR O FIL E S 2 0 1 5 : E A S T N E W YOR K A ND S TA R R E T T C I T Y

279.4 75.6

East New York

and Starrett City
(RANKS 9 )
TH

Financial District
(RANKS 59TH)

194.5 198.4
Brooklyn

NYC

NYC DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 2009-2013

13

Technical notes

NOTES
A complete dataset including
numbers, rates, rankings and
confidence intervals, as well as
definitions and complete citations,
can be found online by going to
nyc.gov and searching
Community Health Profiles.

Neighborhood Definitions and Rankings

The 59 Community Districts (CDs) were established citywide by local law in 1975. For a complete
listing of all CDs and their boundaries, go to nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/neigh_info/nhmap.shtml.
The CDs correspond to New York City (NYC) Community Boards, which are local representative
bodies. The names of neighborhoods within CDs are not officially designated. The names used
in this document are not an exhaustive list of all known neighborhood names within this area.
CDs were ranked on every indicator. If two CDs had the same value, they were considered to be
tied and were given the same rank.
For American Community Survey (ACS) and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
(DOHMH) Community Health Survey (CHS) indicators, data were available by Public Use Microdata
Areas (PUMAs), which are aggregated Census tracts designed to approximate CDs. For Housing
and Vacancy Survey (HVS), data were available by sub-borough areas. The U.S. Census Bureau
combined four pairs of CDs in creating these PUMA or sub-borough areas to improve sampling
and protect the confidentiality of respondents. These pairs are Mott Haven/Melrose (BX 01) and
Hunts Point/Longwood (BX 02) in the Bronx, Morrisania/Crotona (BX 03) and Belmont/East Tremont (BX 06) in the Bronx, the Financial District (MN 01) and Greenwich Village/Soho (MN 02) in
Manhattan and Clinton/Chelsea (MN 04) and Midtown (MN 05) in Manhattan. For these four areas,
the same estimate was applied to both CDs that comprised the PUMA or sub-borough area for
data from ACS, CHS and HVS.
Analyses
For most data, 95% confidence limits were calculated for neighborhood, borough and NYC
estimates. If these ranges did not overlap, a significant difference was inferred. This is a conservative measure of statistical difference. Only robust findings found to be statistically significant are
discussed in the text. In addition, most estimates were evaluated for statistical stability using the
relative standard error (RSE). Those estimates with an RSE greater than 30% are flagged as follows:
Interpret estimate with caution due to small number of events or small sample size.
Where noted, estimates in this report were age standardized to the Year 2000 Standard Population.
Data Sources
U.S. Census/American Community Survey (ACS): The U.S. Census calculates intercensal
population estimates which were used for overall population, age, race and ethnicity indicators.
The ACS is an ongoing national survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Indicators include
limited English proficiency, foreign born percentage, adult educational attainment, poverty, unemployment and rent burden. Three-year estimates (2011-2013) are used to improve
reliability of the data.
NYC DOHMH Community Health Survey (CHS): The CHS is an annual random-digit-dial
telephone survey of approximately 10,000 adults in NYC. Indicators include self-reported health,
smoking, average daily sugary drink consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical
activity, obesity, diabetes, insurance coverage, went without needed care, flu vaccination and HIV
testing. A combined-year dataset (2011-2013) was used to increase statistical power, allowing for
more stable analyses at the Community District level. Community District level estimates were
imputed based on participants ZIP code, age, race and ethnicity, sex and borough of residence.
All indicators are age-adjusted; however crude estimates and rankings are available online in the
complete dataset.
NYC DOHMH Vital Statistics: The Bureau of Vital Statistics analyzes data that it collects from
hundreds of thousands of birth and death certificates issued in NYC each year by the Bureau
of Vital Records. Indicators include preterm births, teen births, prenatal care, leading causes of
death, infant mortality, premature mortality, avertable deaths and life expectancy. For some
indicators, data sources were combined across three, five or ten years to increase statistical
stability and average annual rates are presented. For this reason, these statistics may differ from
the presentation in the Summary of Vital Statistics reports from the Bureau of Vital Statistics, NYC
DOHMH. All rates are shown as crude rates, except leading causes of death and premature
mortality rates, which are age-adjusted.
New York State (NYS) Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative
System (SPARCS): SPARCS is a statewide comprehensive all payer data reporting system
established in 1979 currently collecting patient level detail on patient characteristics, diagnoses
and treatments, services and charges for each hospital inpatient stay and outpatient visit
(ambulatory surgery, emergency department and outpatient services); and each ambulatory

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NOTES

surgery and outpatient services visit to a hospital extension clinic and diagnostic and treatment
center licensed to provide ambulatory surgery services. Indicators include non-fatal assault
hospitalizations, alcohol-related hospitalizations, drug-related hospitalizations, child asthma
hospitalizations, avoidable adult asthma hospitalizations, avoidable adult diabetes hospitalizations, psychiatric hospitalizations and stroke hospitalizations. Hospitalization data are defined
according to International Classification of Disease Clinical Modification, Version 9 (ICD-9-CM)
codes. Most of these hospitalization indicators show 2012 data, updated in December 2014.
For child asthma hospitalizations and non-fatal assault hospitalizations, data sources were
combined across two and three years respectively to increase statistical stability and average
annual rates are presented.
All indicators are age-adjusted, except child asthma hospitalizations, which is age-specific.
NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS): HVS data from 2011 were used to estimate the percent of renter-occupied homes with at least one maintenance issue (defect). Data were obtained
from the NYC Housing Preservation and Development Report: Housing New York City 2011.
NYC Community Air Survey (NYCCAS): 2013 annual averages of micrograms of fine particulate
matter per cubic meter were calculated from air samples collected at specific NYCCAS monitoring
sites and were incorporated into a statistical model that predicted pollutant concentrations.
NYC Department of Consumer Affairs: 2014 tobacco retail density data were analyzed by the
NYC DOHMH Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control.
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets: Based on data from 2014, the supermarket
square footage rate was analyzed by the NYC Department of City Planning and the NYC DOHMH
Bureau of Epidemiology Services.
NYC Department of Education: Elementary school absenteeism data for the 2013-14
school year were analyzed from FITNESSGRAM data by the NYC DOHMH Bureau of
Epidemiology Services.
NYC Department of Corrections: The average daily population of incarcerated persons in NYC
jails ages 16 and older by CD of last known residence. Based on NYC Department of Corrections
(DOC) bi-weekly in-custody files from July 1 to Oct 9, 2014.
NYC DOHMH Citywide Immunization Registry: 2014 HPV vaccination data were analyzed
by the NYC DOHMH Bureau of Immunization.
NYC DOHMH HIV/AIDS Surveillance Registry: New HIV diagnosis data for 2013 were analyzed
by the NYC DOHMH Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the individuals who contributed to these reports: Sonia Angell, George Askew,
Katherine Bartley, Gary Belkin, Angelica Bocour, Sarah Braunstein, Shadi Chamany, Nancy Clark,
Sarah Conderino, Karen Crowe, Gretchen Culp, Antonio DAngelo, Sophia Day, Paloma de la Cruz,
Karen Eggleston, Jeffrey Escoffier, Shannon Farley, Ana Garcia, Victoria Grimshaw, Fangtao He,
Mary Huynh, Steven Immerwahr, John Jasek, Jillian Jessup, Kimberly Johnson, Sarah Johnson,
Hetali Jokhakar, Dan Kass, Kevin Konty, Ram Koppaka, Hillary Kunins, Amber Levanon Seligson,
Veronica Lewin, Wenhui Li, Nneka Lundy De La Cruz, Thomas Matte, Karen Aletha Maybank,
Wendy McKelvey, Katharine McVeigh, Aaron Mettey, Chris Miller, Christa Myers, Deborah Nagin,
Cathy Nonas, Christina Norman, Jennifer Norton, Carolyn Olson, Emiko Otsubo, Michelle Paladino, Denise Paone, Vassiliki Papadouka, Hilary Parton, Grant Pezeshki, Michael Porter, Susan
Resnick, Rebekkah Robbins, John Rojas, Slavenka Sedlar, Tejinder Singh, Laura Smith, Travis
Smith, Ariel Spira-Cohen, Catherine Stayton, Monica Sull, Ying Sun, Arpi Terzian, Elizabeth Thomas, Ellenie Tuazon, Gretchen Van Wye, Jay Varma, Verliene Wade, Sarah Walters, Catherine Wang,
Kennedy Willis, Ewa Wojas, Ricky Wong, Joy Xu, Brian Yim and Jane Zucker.
In collaboration with:

MEASUREO F A M ERI C A
of the Social Science Research Council

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15

Life expectancy

by Community
District
Life
Expectancy
by
Community
District
74.1 - 78.7 years
78.8 - 80.9 years

74.1 - 78.7 years

81.0 - 82.9 years

78.8 - 80.9 years

83.0 - 85.4 years

81.0 - 82.9 years

npopu ated reas

83.0 - 85.4 years

Unpopulated areas
East New York
and Starrett City:
77.7 years

East New York and

Starrett City:
77.7

NYC DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 2003-2012

Contact Information:
For reports on the other 58 Community Districts, please visit nyc.gov and
search Community Health Profiles or email: profiles@health.nyc.gov
Copyright2015 The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
NYC Community Health Profiles feature information about 59 neighborhoods in New York City.
Suggested citation:
King L, Hinterland K, Dragan KL, Driver CR, Harris TG, Gwynn RC, Linos N, Barbot O, Bassett MT.
Community Health Profiles 2015, Brooklyn Community District 5: East New York and Starrett City; 2015;
29(59):1-16.