Dec. 10--Illinois ranks 28th in the nation for overall health and well-being, a slight improvement from last year and helped by a low rate of drug deaths and the availability of primary care physicians, according to the 2015 America's Health Rankings report.
But the state continues to battle numerous health challenges, including excessive drinking, high levels of air pollution, a high rate of preventable hospitalizations and a climbing rate of childhood poverty. Overall, the state moved up two spots in the rankings, from 30th place last year.
The report, released Thursday, provides a state-by-state snapshot of health and environmental data. It has been published annually for 26 years.
Despite the challenges, Illinois had several bright spots, including a 13 percent decrease in premature deaths and a 30 percent decline in violent crime over the past 10 years. Since 1990, infant mortality has decreased 48 percent.
The healthiest state, for the fourth year in a row, was Hawaii, which is noted for its low rate of preventable hospitalizations and obesity. The least healthy state was Louisiana, which edged out Mississippi for 50th place. In Louisiana, nearly one-quarter of adults smoke, and one in three adults are obese, the report said.
A look at other states:
--Utah had the lowest rate of smoking, 9.7 percent, compared with the national rate of 18.1 percent. The highest rate, 26.7 percent, was in West Virginia.
--North Dakota had the lowest rate for drug deaths, 2.7 per 100,000 people, compared with the national rate of 13.5. But the state also had the highest chronic-drinking rate, with 25 percent of adults who consumed alcohol classified in that category -- more than eight drinks a week (for women) or 15 drinks (for men).
--Arkansas was most obese state, with an average body-mass index of 35.9. The lowest was Colorado, at 21.3.
--North Carolina was the most improved state for overall health, moving from the 37th position to 31st.
--Vermont was the least violent state, with 121.1 rapes, murders, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. Alaska was most violent, with 640.4.
--Texas had the most residents without health insurance, with 20.6 percent of people not covered. Massachusetts was most covered, with only 3.5 percent uninsured.
The report, available at www.americashealthrankings.org, is published by United Health Foundation in partnership with the American Public Health Association. It used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Medical Association, FBI, Dartmouth Atlas Project, Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Education.
jrussell@tribpub.com
