Delaware County's Health Ranks 35th Among PA's 67 Counties

A new study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked counties across the nation by healthiest to unhealthiest.

In Pennsylvania, Delaware came in 35th out of PA's 67 counties.

Delco residents, on average, live slightly unhealthier and shorter lives, but have better access to care, and live in better social and economic situations than residents in other counties in Pennsylvania.

Researchers took data from a wide variety of national and local sources and ranked them with statistically-informed weight. Categories were broken down into two headings, health outcomes and health factors, and analyzed health behaviors , social factors, and the extent of the care available locally.

The county fared OK in most categories, ranking 30th in length of life, 13th in health behaviors (which looks at obesity rates, smoking, STIs, excessive drinking, etc.), and 23rd in social and economic factors among other categories.

Some other interesting tidbits from the study:

• the county has a lower obesity rate compared to PA as a whole, sitting at 25 percent;
• 30 percent of driving deaths are alcohol-impaired, compared to the statewide mark of 33 percent;
• 19 percent of adults in the county binge drink; 18 percent of Pennsylvanians do;
• Just 19 percent of adults in the county are smokers, just under the state's 20 percent of smokers;
• The unemployment rate is 5.5 percent, a bit lower than the 5.1 percent statewide rate.

Nearby, Chester County was ranked 1st in the state, Montgomery County was ranked 3rd in the state, Bucks 6th, and Philadelphia last at 67th.

Nationwide, researchers found that overdose deaths are continuing to spread at epidemic-like levels, particularly between individuals in the aged 15-44 category. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among 25 to 44 year olds, and are the "clear driver" of the increase in premature deaths in recent years.

Researchers said that they hoped the data would help improve healthcare policy at the local level.

"The County Health Rankings show us that where people live plays a key role in how long and how well they live," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, RWJF president and CEO. "The Rankings allow local leaders to clearly see and prioritize the challenges they face - whether it's rising premature death rates or the growing drug overdose epidemic - so they can bring community leaders and residents together to find solutions."

Learn more about the data sources for this study here.

Image courtesy Robert Wood Johnson Foundation