Report: R.I. 14th for overall health in U.S.

PROVIDENCE – The Ocean State ranked 14th in the country this year in overall health, improving one spot from 2014, according to the annual America’s Health Rankings Report released Thursday by United Health Foundation.

Rhode Island scored in the national “top 10” in seven of the report’s 34 measures, and held the No. 1 ranking in the country for immunization rate among adolescents. It also ranked high in public health funding (No. 6), immunization rates among children (No. 11) and percentage of insured residents (No. 12).
Strengths highlighted in the report include high per capita public health funding and ready availability of primary care physicians. Challenges noted include high rate of drug deaths, high prevalence of excessive drinking and large disparity in health status by education level.
Other highlights:

  • In the past year, physical inactivity decreased among adults by 16 percent, to 22.5 percent from 26.9 percent.
  • In the past two years, preventable hospitalizations decreased 23 percent, to 54 per 1,000 Medicaid beneficiaries from 70.3.
  • In the past 10 years, infant mortality increased 25 percent, to 6.5 deaths per 1,000 live births from 5.2.
  • In the past 20 years, cardiovascular deaths decreased 33 percent, to 229.9 per 100,000 population from 345.
  • Since 1990, cancer deaths decreased 7 percent, to 192.4 per 100,000 population from 207.7.

The healthiest state distinction went to Vermont, with New Hampshire coming in second and Minnesota, third. Massachusetts was sixth, with Connecticut, 10th and Maine, 11th.
The report is based on data from the federal departments such as the Health and Human Services, Commerce, Education, Justice and Labor, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Census Bureau, American Medical Association, American Dental Association and World Health Organization, among others.

“The ultimate purpose of America’s Health Rankings Annual Report is to stimulate action by individuals, elected officials, health care professionals, public health professionals, employers, educators and communities to improve the health of the U.S. population,” United Health Foundation said.

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