Health Status of Puerto Rican Youth in the Island: Key Cardiometabolic and Mental Health Aspects

ABSTRACT Adverse cardiometabolic factors and poor mental health in early adulthood are linked to long-term disease risk. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 2,783 adults aged 21–35 years in Puerto Rico to characterize self-reported demographic, health, and behavioral profiles and examine sex and age differences. Findings showed that 40.5% reported ≥6 days of poor mental health and 20.4% ≥6 days of poor physical health in the past month. Most participants had health insurance (90.3%), yet 36.9% reported financial barriers to care, and 32.3% lacked a primary care provider. Preventive care engagement was mixed, with low influenza vaccination (30.4%) but higher HIV/STD testing (70.7%), PAP smear screening (77.9%), and HPV vaccination (54.7%). Over half were overweight or obese (57.2%), 14.7% reported elevated levels of blood sugar or prediabetes, and 10.9% hypertension. Females reported poorer mental health but higher engagement in preventive services, whereas males were more likely to lack insurance or a primary care provider and to report hypertension and tobacco use. Younger adults reported worse mental health and higher loneliness, while older groups showed greater cardiometabolic factors. These findings highlight the need for interventions to improve preventive care, increase awareness of cardiometabolic risk, and enhance mental health among young adults.