Lorain County Residents Die Younger Than US Average

LORAIN COUNTY, OH - Lorain County ranks 41 out of Ohio's 88 counties in terms of health outcomes, research from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps organization, a collaboration between Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Public Health Institute.

The number for the county are worse than the national average in many categories. Length of life is shorter in Lorain County than in the average county in the US. That's largely because there is a higher premature death rate in Lorain than elsewhere, with a 7,200 premature deaths per 100,000 residents rate. The average for the US in premature deaths is 6,601.

However, while the premature death rate in Lorain is higher than the US average, it's also below the Ohio average. Ohioans, on average, are dying before their time at a rate of 7,566 per 100,000 residents. Among Ohio's 88 counties, Lorain's rate of 7,200 per 100,000 premature deaths ranks 35th.

Top US counties have an average rate of premature death of 5,200 per 100,000 residents, according to County Health Rankings research. However, premature deaths have been increased across the US. The largest increase in premature deaths has been occurring in those aged 15-44, the organization says. Additionally, the premature death rate is increasing in both urban and rural communities and across all ethnic and racial groups.

The largest contributor to the spike in premature deaths is drug overdoses, which has led to large suburban metro counties leading the nation in the highest premature death rates.

"For those ages 15–24, an increase in drug overdose deaths was part of the equation, but more deaths due to motor vehicle crashes and firearm fatalities also played a role in the accelerated rise in premature death," the organization says.

More Lorain Numbers

Lorain's worst category of performance was actually Physical Environment, which looks at various factors that could impact a person's health. The organization said Lorain has had drinking water violations, 84 percent of residents drive alone to work, 34 percent of residents have a long solo commute, and about 15 percent of residents have a severe housing problem. Overall, Lorain ranked 70th out of Ohio's 88 counties in the category.

However, Lorain's highest performance in a category came in Clinical Care, where the county ranked 23 out of all 88 counties. About 9 percent of Lorain residents are uninsured, slightly lower than the state average of 10 percent. There is also more diabetes monitoring and mammography screening performed in Lorain than in other Ohio counties on average.

Among Northeast Ohio counties, Lorain scored well. Cuyahoga County ranked 65 in health outcomes and 56 in health factors; Erie County ranked 57 in health outcomes and 41 in health factors; and Summit County ranked 50 in health outcomes and 48 in health factors.

However, neighboring Medina County crushed all of its bordering counties, ranking 5 in health outcomes and 4 in health factors.

To see other county results, or dig into the Lorain research, click here.

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