Health, Hospital & Chronic Disease Statistics
Long Island is often viewed as one of the healthiest regions in New York State – supported by high-quality hospitals, long life expectancy, competitive income levels, and robust community health institutions. But even in a relatively strong health environment, chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancer, and depression continue to affect thousands of local residents, drive hospital visits, and put pressure on healthcare resources.
This page includes an overview of both chronic disease trends and hospital activity across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, highlighting critical data to understand the current state of public health on Long Island. These figures are primarily derived from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), CDC PLACES, County Health Assessments, and regional health summaries from major local providers.
Table of Contents
- Chronic Disease Snapshot
1.1 Metabolic & Cardiac Conditions
1.2 Respiratory & Cancer Indicators
1.3 Mental Health & Substance Use - Hospital Statistics & Healthcare Infrastructure
- What This Means for Long Islanders
- Sources & Notes
1. Chronic Disease Snapshot
Prevalence & hospitalization indicators for selected chronic conditions
(most recent publicly available data, primarily 2018–2024 sources)
| Category | Condition | Nassau County | Suffolk County | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic & Weight-related | Obesity (adult BMI ≥ 30) | ~27% of adults | ~30% of adults | Based on CDC DataCommons / Long Island Health Collaborative reports (2019–2024) |
| Overweight or Obese (combined) | ~60% of adults | ~64% of adults | Based on regional BRFSS data; earlier surveys (2013–2015) | |
| Diabetes (diagnosed) | ~7% of adults | ~10% of adults | Nassau slightly lower than state average, Suffolk closer to national norm | |
| Prediabetes | Data available, but local % not summarized | Data available, but local % not summarized | CDC maps show elevated risk; not quoted in single LI-wide number | |
| Cardiovascular | Heart disease mortality | ~187 deaths per 100,000 | Slightly higher than NYS average; varies by community | NYSDOH surveillance data |
| Coronary heart disease hospitalizations | ~48 per 10,000 adults | Not summarized in local summaries | Available in DOH indicator tables | |
| Hypertension | Data available in survey models | Data available in survey models | Prevalence not often quoted locally, but present via CDC PLACES | |
| Respiratory | Asthma (all ages hospitalization rate) | ~8.4 per 10,000 | ~5.7 per 10,000 (declined from 8.0) | Reflects 3-year moving averages for hospital visits |
| Asthma (ages 0–4 hospitalization rate) | ~32.6 per 10,000 | ~36.8 per 10,000 | Childhood asthma higher than adult rates; ZIP code disparities | |
| COPD hospitalizations | ~21.7 per 10,000 | Not summarized, but elevated in high-risk communities | Often grouped with chronic respiratory illness in CHNAs | |
| Cancer | Overall cancer burden | Leading cause of death along with heart disease | Cancer incidence slightly higher compared to statewide average | Both counties track breast, colorectal, lung, prostate via NYSDOH |
| Colorectal cancer incidence | Data variable, depends on age/sex | ~48.7 per 100k men, ~33.9 per 100k women (2011–15) | Higher burden for certain communities | |
| Mental & Behavioral Health | Depression (ever diagnosed) | ~14% of adults | ~16% of adults | Based on CDC BRFSS-derived models (2020) |
| Opioid overdose mortality | 30% below NYS average | 40–50% above NYS average | Suffolk among highest in NYS for overdose deaths | |
| Infectious Chronic Conditions | HIV prevalence | Lower than statewide benchmark (23 per 100k) | ~197 per 100k; ~2,955 residents living with HIV/AIDS (2013) | Latest figures available via state dashboards |
| Other Chronic Conditions | Arthritis | Data available in CDC models | Data available in CDC models | Not summarized as a headline figure in local reports |
| Chronic kidney disease (CKD) | Limited public summary data | Limited public summary data | Mostly tracked via Medicare and ESRD registries | |
| Alzheimer’s / Dementia | Age-adjusted rates available in claims-based models | Same; growing concern due to aging population | Data not routinely broken down in public-facing county summaries |
Note: Figures are from the latest county health assessments, CDC PLACES, DOH indicator sets, and regional Institute reports. Conditions without a numeric value reflect limited public data or data that exists only in technical dashboards or claims-based models not publicly summarized.
2. Hospital Statistics & Healthcare Infrastructure
Long Island is home to several outstanding hospitals, including nationally ranked institutions and community-based medical centers that serve the Island’s nearly 3 million residents. These hospitals perform thousands of surgeries each year, handle millions of patient visits, and offer specialized programs for cardiac care, cancer treatment, orthopedics, pediatrics, mental health, and more.
Highlights include:
- Multiple hospitals recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in the nation across various specialties
- Extensive coverage of urgent care, emergency care, and surgical services across both counties
- Specialized facilities for cancer research, heart disease, and women’s health
- Expanding digital care (telemedicine, remote monitoring) and outpatient clinics
- Active involvement in community health outreach, care coordination, and chronic disease management programs
3. What This Means for Long Islanders
Chronic diseases remain the leading cause of hospitalization, emergency room visits, and premature death – even in regions like Long Island that rank highly in terms of household income and access to care. The data above tells a clear story:
- Obesity and diabetes are major drivers of local disease burden
- Heart disease and cancer continue to lead mortality statistics
- Asthma and respiratory issues persist at concerning levels in children
- Mental health and substance use disorders affect large portions of the population
- Access to healthcare and prevention efforts are vital to improving community health outcomes
As Long Island’s population continues to age and migration trends shift, chronic disease management and prevention – supported by hospitals, public health agencies, and community organizations – will play an increasingly important role.
4. Sources & Notes
- New York State Department of Health (County Health Assessment Indicators)
- CDC PLACES & Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data models
- National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) linked mortality profiles
- Long Island Health Collaborative reports
- County Health Assessments (Suffolk County CHA 2022–2024, Nassau County CHNA 2019–2022)
- Local media reporting (Newsday, Patch, and data summaries using CDC datasets)
