What is the state of health in Arizona?

Health Status in Arizona: Challenges and Opportunities

Arizona faces significant health disparities with high rates of chronic disease, particularly affecting minority populations, border communities, and those with limited healthcare access. 1, 2

Key Health Indicators and Challenges

Demographic and Geographic Considerations

• Border communities like Douglas, Arizona (with neighboring Agua Prieta and Naco in Mexico) face unique health challenges 1:
  • 70% Hispanic population
  • High poverty rates
  • Elevated chronic disease prevalence
  • Limited healthcare access

Chronic Disease Burden

• Diabetes Management Disparities 2:

  • Black patients experience alarming disparities in diabetes-related death rates, HbA1c testing, and annual foot exams
  • American Indian populations have disproportionately high diabetes-related mortality
  • Additional disparities exist among uninsured patients and those with less education

• Disability Burden 3:

  • Arizona is among eight states with higher age-standardized years lived with disability (YLD) rates than any country in the world
  • Major contributors include musculoskeletal disorders, mental disorders, and substance use disorders

Risk Factors

• Obesity and Physical Activity 1:

  • Physical activity levels have improved nationally, with walking rates increasing from 55.7% to 62.0% between 2005-2010
  • Western states including Arizona showed a 7.3 percentage point increase in walking rates
  • However, obesity remains a significant concern nationally, affecting approximately 35% of adults and 17% of youth 1

• Cardiovascular Risk Factors 1:

  • Hypertension affects approximately 25% of American adults with an additional 45 million in the prehypertensive range
  • Only about 34% of hypertensive patients are on medication with good control
  • Elevated cholesterol affects over 50% of the population

Healthcare Access and Insurance Coverage

• Insurance Coverage Improvements 1:

  • Massachusetts saw health insurance coverage increase from 89% to 97% after implementing healthcare coverage legislation
  • Similar improvements could benefit Arizona, where border communities and minority populations face coverage gaps

• Adolescent Healthcare Access 1:

  • Adolescents have the lowest rate of primary care use of any age group
  • More than 12 million infants, children, and young adults are uninsured nationally, with 7 million being adolescents or young adults
  • 85% of adolescents report having a regular source of healthcare

Community-Based Interventions and Solutions

• Community Mobilization Framework 1:

  • Douglas, Arizona demonstrates successful use of community health workers to connect people to health services
  • Community Advisory Board partnerships with university prevention research centers have focused on diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention
  • Interventions target diabetes self-care, physical activity, healthy food choices, and positive changes in social norms

• Social Determinants of Health Approach 1:

  • Healthcare coverage varies significantly by region (10-14% uninsured in southern states vs. 3-5% in northeastern states)
  • Educational attainment impacts both cardiovascular risk and ability to self-manage complex treatment regimens
  • Risk reduction targeting disadvantaged populations at highest risk may have greatest impact on health equity

Prevention Strategies

• Physical Activity Promotion 1:

  • Evidence-based approaches include:
    1. Creating/enhancing access to places for physical activity with informational outreach
    2. Using street-scale urban design and land use policies
    3. Implementing community-scale urban design and land use practices

• Screening and Risk Factor Management 1:

  • Hypertension screening and management
  • Dyslipidemia identification and treatment
  • Obesity prevention and management

Conclusion

Arizona faces significant health challenges, particularly in border communities and among minority populations. The state's health status is characterized by high rates of chronic disease, especially diabetes with notable disparities among Black and American Indian populations. Arizona has one of the highest disability burdens in the nation. Community-based interventions like those implemented in Douglas show promise in addressing these challenges through targeted approaches to chronic disease prevention and management.