America’s Health Rankings 2019 Annual Report
06 December 2019 - 12:30AM
Business Wire
Marks 30 Years of Public Health Progress and
Challenges
- The 2019 Annual Report reveals rising rates of diabetes,
suicide and drug deaths
- 30 years of data show progress and ongoing challenges, with
smoking rate decreasing by 45% while obesity rate climbs
166%
- Expert panel to discuss public health improvements over past
30 years as well as ongoing challenges
- Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) to
receive the America’s Health Rankings 30th Anniversary Champion of
Public Health Award
For 30 years, America’s Health Rankings has played a leading
role in raising awareness of important trends in public health.
Today, the United Health Foundation released the 2019 America’s
Health Rankings® Annual Report, which highlights health trends from
the past three decades as well as from the past year. The report
showcases meaningful progress in reducing smoking and infant
mortality. It also identifies challenges including increasing rates
of diabetes, suicide and drug deaths.
To mark the 30th edition of the Annual Report, the United Health
Foundation is hosting “Shaping the Future of Public Health:
Learning from 30 Years of Data,” a public event to convene experts
and discuss public health progress and challenges of the last 30
years.
Starting in 1990, America’s Health Rankings has helped frame the
debate on public health issues by identifying key health challenges
at both the national and state levels.
Key national findings from the 2019 report include:
- In the past year, improvements have been made in lowering the
rates of smoking (decreasing 6%), children in poverty (decreasing
2%), and increasing the supply of mental health providers
(increasing 5%). In the past two years, infant mortality has
declined, resulting in 1,200 fewer deaths (decreasing 2%).
- Obesity prevalence among Americans is now at 30.9%, up 11%
since 2012.
- Diabetes is now at 10.9% of the U.S. population, up 4% in the
past year.
- The rate of drug deaths increased 37% from 14.0 to 19.2 deaths
per 100,000 – equating to more than 53,000 additional deaths over a
three-year period.
- The suicide rate increased 4% nationally in the past year, and
is up in a total of 30 states.
Key findings from America’s Health Rankings 30 years of data
include:
- Smoking among adults has decreased 45% since 1990. Today, 16.1%
of adults report that they smoke. (Note: Data from 36 states on
adult e-cigarette use has been added this year.)
- Infant mortality has decreased 43% since 1990, with declines in
all 50 states.
- Obesity has increased 166% over the past 30 years, from 11.6%
to 30.9%.
- Diabetes has reached the highest prevalence since 1996, the
first year America’s Health Rankings tracked it, increasing 148%
among adults.
- The national suicide rate has increased 17% since 2012.
- Drug deaths have increased 104% since 2007.
- Click here to read the Executive Highlights, a summary that
distills key findings from the past 30 years and this year.
“Over the past 30 years, the understanding and science of public
health has changed dramatically,” said Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief
medical officer of UnitedHealthcare and advisor to America’s Health
Rankings. “Many health issues that were concerning in 1990 remain
so today, and additional issues have arisen that require action
now. America’s Health Rankings will continue to provide evolving
state and national snapshots of health to inform and drive action
to build healthier communities.”
2019 Rankings Among States
The 2019 America’s Health Rankings Annual Report also provides a
snapshot of overall health across states and the nation. Key
highlights include:
- Vermont topped the list of healthiest states in 2019, followed
by Massachusetts (No. 2), Hawaii (No. 3), Connecticut (No. 4) and
Utah (No. 5). Vermont improved three ranks in 2019 to take the top
spot.
- Mississippi ranks No. 50 this year, while Louisiana (No. 49),
Arkansas (No. 48), Alabama (No. 47) and Oklahoma (No. 46) follow
with opportunities for improvement.
- New York has made the most progress since the Annual Report was
first released in 1990, improving 29 ranks from No. 40 to No.
11.
“Despite many successes, our country has work to do to ensure
every person, regardless of where you live, has an equal
opportunity to live a long and healthy life,” said Dr. Georges
Benjamin, executive director, American Public Health Association,
which partnered with the United Health Foundation to produce the
2019 America’s Health Rankings Annual Report.
America’s Health Rankings 30th Anniversary Event
Notable public health leaders who will participate in today’s
panel discussion include Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director,
American Public Health Association; Dr. Judy Monroe, president and
CEO, CDC Foundation; Dr. Michael Fraser, CEO, Association of State
and Territorial Health Officials; Dr. Rhonda Randall, executive
vice president and chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare; and Dr.
Richard Migliori, chief medical officer, UnitedHealth Group, who
will moderate. The panel discussion will be made available via
LiveStream and archived on www.AmericasHealthRankings.org.
Prior to today’s panel discussion, the United Health Foundation
will present the America’s Health Rankings 30th Anniversary
Champion of Public Health Award to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and
Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) for their long-standing commitment to
public health.
“UnitedHealth Group is honored to celebrate Sen. Murray and Rep.
Walden, and we are grateful for their decades of leadership,” said
Migliori. “They understand the value that credible data from
America’s Health Rankings provides in advancing public health
progress and achieving long-term health goals, and we are grateful
for all of their support.”
About the America’s Health Rankings®
Annual Report
America’s Health Rankings, in partnership this year with the
American Public Health Association (APHA), collaborated with an
advisory group of leading experts in public health to develop the
2019 Annual Report. The Annual Report provides a comprehensive
assessment of the nation’s health and on a state-by-state basis.
The report includes 35 core measures of health that are used to
rank states.
About the United Health
Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and
outreach efforts, the United Health Foundation works to improve our
health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and
enhance the well-being of local communities. The 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, the United Health Foundation has
committed $430 million to programs and communities around the
world. We invite you to learn more at
www.unitedhealthgroup.com/SocialResponsibility
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The United Health Foundation Jenifer McCormick
jenifer_mccormick@uhg.com, 952-936-1917
UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH)
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