The greatest health strengths and challenges in Utah
The recently released “America’s Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report” uncovered several health strengths and challenges in Utah.
Utah is ranked 7th in the country for overall health – a decline from a ranking of 5 in 20191 – according to America’s Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report. Below is a summary of the positive and negative factors that contributed to this ranking.2
Utah health strengths
- Low premature death rate
- Low prevalence of multiple chronic conditions
- Low prevalence of cigarette smoking
- 36% increase in HPV vaccination among adolescents ages 13 to 17 between 2020 and 2021
Utah health challenges
- High racial disparity in premature death rates
- High prevalence of frequent mental distress
- Low prevalence of having a dedicated health care provider
- 40% increase in frequent mental distress from 12.2% to 17.1% of adults between 2018 and 2021
- 79% increase in non-medical drug use from 11.2% to 20.1% of adults between 2021 and 2022
What this means for employers
Employers who do business or have employees living in the state of Utah may want to consider programs or benefits that can help support their employee population and guide them to better health decisions.
The real people behind these numbers are what make the work ahead so critically important. Despite the challenges ahead, I remain optimistic that the health system can rise to the moment to address long-standing disparities and improve the health and well-being of all Americans, for this generation and the next.
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