2017 Annual Report: Nation’s Health Faces Rising Rates of Premature Death & Continued Unevenness in Concentration of Health...
December 12 2017 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
- Drug death rate is at its highest
level in history of America’s Health Rankings
- Massachusetts ranks as nation’s
healthiest state for the first time ever
- First ever examination of
concentration of mental health providers reveals wide
variation
America’s health is challenged by an increase in premature death
and uneven concentration of health care providers, according to key
findings in United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings®
Annual Report.
America’s Health Rankings Annual Report, now in its 28th year,
provides a holistic view of the health of the nation and of each
state by analyzing 35 measures of behaviors, community and
environment, policy, clinical care and outcomes data.
Disturbing Trends in U.S. Mortality: Increases in Premature
Deaths, Drug Deaths and Cardiovascular DeathsThe report finds
increases in the rates for three key mortality indicators.
- The premature death rate increased for
the third year in a row. The rate increased by 3 percent from 2015.
Premature death is defined as the years of potential life lost
before age 75.
- In the past year, the rate of drug
deaths continued an upward trend, increasing by 7 percent to its
highest level ever as measured by the America’s Health Rankings
Annual Report.
- Cardiovascular deaths increased for the
second consecutive year, with the rate among African Americans
significantly higher than the rate among whites, Hispanic- and
Asian-Americans, and Native Americans.
Even Healthy States Are Experiencing Increases in
MortalityIncreases in key mortality indicators are being felt
even in the nation’s healthiest states.
- In the past five years, some of the
healthiest states by overall rank have experienced large increases
in drug death rates, including New Hampshire (a 118 percent
increase, with an additional 13-plus deaths per 100,000 people),
Rhode Island (a 56 percent increase, with an additional 8-plus
deaths per 100,000 people) and Massachusetts (a 69 percent
increase, with an additional 8-plus deaths per 100,000
people).
- In the past five years, Utah (ranked as
the fourth healthiest state) experienced one of the largest
increases in the rate of cardiovascular deaths (10 percent, with
additional 21-plus deaths per 100,000 people).
Continued Variation in the Concentration of Health Care
ProvidersThe wide variation in health care providers across the
country may contribute to differences in overall health.
- The state with the highest
concentration of mental health care providers, Massachusetts, has
six times the number of mental health care providers than the state
with the least amount, Alabama.
- Massachusetts has 547 care providers
per 100,000 people vs. Alabama, which has 85 care providers per
100,000 people.
- There is also a significant variation
in primary care physicians, with a nearly two-to-one ratio between
the states with the highest and lowest concentrations.
- Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York
and Connecticut have more than 200 primary care physicians per
100,000 people, compared to fewer than 100 physicians per 100,000
people in Utah and Idaho.
- Similarly, the concentration of
dentists varies by almost two to one across states.
- Massachusetts and New Jersey have more
than 80 dentists per 100,000 people. Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama
and Delaware have fewer than 45 dentists per 100,000 people.
State Rankings in 2017: Massachusetts Ranks
1st, Mississippi Ranks 50th
- Massachusetts ranks as the healthiest
state in 2017 for the first time, followed by Hawaii (2), Vermont
(3), Utah (4) and Connecticut (5).
- Mississippi is ranked 50th for the
second year in a row with Louisiana (49), Arkansas (48), Alabama
(47) and West Virginia (46) rounding out the states with greatest
opportunities for improvement.
“This report serves as an important tool for health care
professionals, policymakers and communities in their collaborative
efforts to address these challenges, and help build healthier
communities across the nation,” said Rhonda Randall, D.O., senior
adviser to United Health Foundation, and chief medical officer,
UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions. “This is a call to action for
each of us to make changes in our own lifestyles that can help
improve our overall health and well-being.”
About America’s Health Rankings and the 28th
Annual Report
America’s Health Rankings Annual Report is the longest-running
annual assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis.
For 28 years, the report has analyzed a comprehensive set of
behaviors, community and environment, policy, clinical care and
outcomes to provide a holistic view of the health of the
nation.
The longevity of the report and wealth of credible data
available for analysis provide a unique opportunity to track short-
and long-term successes, and identify current and emerging
challenges to the nation’s health.
For more information, visit www.AmericasHealthRankings.org.
About United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and
outreach efforts, United Health Foundation works to improve our
health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and
enhance the well-being of local communities. United Health
Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in
1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving
health and health care. To date, United Health Foundation has
committed nearly $358 million to programs and communities around
the world. We invite you to learn more at
www.unitedhealthgroup.com/SocialResponsibility.
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United Health FoundationL.D.
Platt, 202-654-8830ld_platt@uhg.comwww.AmericasHealthRankings.org
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