Snohomish and Island counties among healthiest in state

Snohomish County is the 10th healthiest place to live in the state, while Island County ranks fifth.

A set of reports to rank the overall health of every county in all 50 states was released last week by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Neighboring San Juan County was named healthiest in the state. Ferry County in Northeast Washington received the lowest score.

Each county is ranked on how healthy people are and how long they live. Counties are also ranked on key factors that affect health such as: smoking, obesity, binge drinking, access to primary care providers, rates of high school graduation, rates of violent crime, air pollution levels, liquor store density, unemployment rates and number of children living in poverty.

It’s the first time researchers have examined the multiple factors that affect health in each county in all 50 states. Researchers used data available for each county, ranging from 2000 to 2008, to develop the findings.

The rankings show that people who live in healthier counties tend to have higher education levels, are more likely to be employed, have access to more health care providers, and have better access to healthier foods, parks and recreational facilities.

“The rankings demonstrate that health happens where we live, learn, work and play. And much of what influences how healthy we are and how long we live happens outside the doctor’s office,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “People, no matter where they live, should have the best possible opportunity to be healthy.”

Although Snohomish County’s health factors ranking came in at seventh out of 39 counties, a health behaviors rank of 17 shows slight concerns. Percentages of adults who reported smoking (19 percent), obesity (27 percent), and binge drinking (15 percent) were at par with Washington state’s overall values, but were at least 4 percent above the target values suggested by the study.

Island County shared similar health behaviors percentages, yet, its overall health factors rank of 11th in the state was affected by an uninsured adults percentage of 19, 7 percent over the target value.

In April of 2009, the Snohomish Health District published “Signals 2 — Public Health Indicators of Snohomish County.”

A 10-year analysis of trends showed a 30- to 40- percent decline in rates of teen pregnancy, infant mortality, and smoking during pregnancy. However, increases of approximately 75 percent were seen for obesity, heavy drinking in adults and chlamydia in the general population. The rates for lack of prenatal care in the first trimester, gonorrhea and unintentional poisonings more than doubled.

Despite that, Snohomish County health rankings are calculated in relation to the rest of the state.

A behavioral risk factor survey of Island County adults, sponsored in part by Island County Health Department and Island County/ Stanwood Community Network was prepared by the Gilmore Research Group of Seattle in 2007. The summary compared changes in risk factors between 2000 and 2006 findings.

While general health questions remained consistent, the percentage of uninsured adults increased — similar findings to the county health rankings study. Among those not covered, 49 percent said they couldn’t afford to pay the premiums.

Obesity rates also increased nearly 6 percent over the years of the Gilmore study.

Researchers, like Patrick Remington, M.D., M.H.P., associate dean for public health at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, “hope this kind of check-up will mobilize community leaders to take action and invest in programs and policy changes that make their counties healthier places to live.”

County Health Rankings are available online, www. countyhealthrankings.org.

Staff Reporter Adam Stewart: 629-8066 ext. 115 or astewart@scnews.com.