The Appalachian Regional Commission released a report in August that provides a comprehensive look at health in the region, the ARC version of which has 420 counties in 13 states. Health Disparities in Appalachia is the first report in a series, and it's off to a grim start: Even in areas where health has improved, Appalachia is still behind the rest of the country, and continues to fall further behind.
Specifically, death rates from heart disease, cancer and stroke have decreased in both Appalachia and the U.S. overall, as has infant mortality. More primary care doctors are available, education levels are up, and death rates are down. But though Appalachia has improved in those areas, it's improved less than the country as a whole. Poverty is the only measure that increased in both Appalachia and the U.S. overall.
Deaths by injury are 33 percent higher in Appalachia than in the rest of the country, probably because that category includes drug overdoses. Appalachia and many other rural areas struggle with the opioid epidemic. Deaths by suicide are 17 percent higher than national rates as well. But Appalachia also has 33 percent more social associations than the country as a whole. Social associations include entities such as churches. Those may help improve health outcomes in Appalachia. "Greater levels of social relationships and interaction positively affect a number of outcomes, included those associated with both mental and physical health," the report says.
ARC partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky to produce the report. The region's worst statistics are found in Central Appalachia, which is dominated by Eastern Kentucky.
Specifically, death rates from heart disease, cancer and stroke have decreased in both Appalachia and the U.S. overall, as has infant mortality. More primary care doctors are available, education levels are up, and death rates are down. But though Appalachia has improved in those areas, it's improved less than the country as a whole. Poverty is the only measure that increased in both Appalachia and the U.S. overall.
Deaths by injury are 33 percent higher in Appalachia than in the rest of the country, probably because that category includes drug overdoses. Appalachia and many other rural areas struggle with the opioid epidemic. Deaths by suicide are 17 percent higher than national rates as well. But Appalachia also has 33 percent more social associations than the country as a whole. Social associations include entities such as churches. Those may help improve health outcomes in Appalachia. "Greater levels of social relationships and interaction positively affect a number of outcomes, included those associated with both mental and physical health," the report says.
ARC partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky to produce the report. The region's worst statistics are found in Central Appalachia, which is dominated by Eastern Kentucky.
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