Sunday, December 7, 2008

Healthiest State in the Union (and the Unhealthiest)

Vermont, according to the article in Forbes, is the healthiest state in the country. Compared to the unhealthiest state in the country, Louisiana, the numbers are quite large. I highlighted the ones that seem to stick out the most when it comes to chronic diseases.

Vermont: 1
Change: no change
Prevalence of Obesity (percent of population): 6
Air Pollution (micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter): 10
Lack of Health Insurance (percent without health insurance): 10
Immunization Coverage (percent of children ages 19 to 35 months): 29
Primary Care Physicians (number per 100,000 population): 5
Poor Mental Health Days (days in previous 30 days): 14
Cardiovascular Deaths (deaths per 100,000 population): 10
Cancer Deaths (deaths per 100,000 population): 13


Louisiana: 50
Change: -1
Prevalence of Obesity (percent of population): 47
Air Pollution (micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter): 35
Lack of Health Insurance (percent without health insurance): 47
Immunization Coverage (percent of children ages 19 to 35 months): 39
Primary Care Physicians (number per 100,000 population): 20
Poor Mental Health Days (days in previous 30 days): 8
Cardiovascular Deaths (deaths per 100,000 population): 45
Cancer Deaths (deaths per 100,000 population): 49



These facts beg the question, what is Vermont doing right? And, can that be replicated nationwide?

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