HIGHLIGHTS
| Volume 27, Issue 479 |
November 13, 2006 |
HEALTH STATUS BY STATE
Poor Health Linked to Disabilities
People with disabilities are in poorer health than their non-disabled counterparts, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The Disability and Health State Chartbook, 2006—Profiles of Health for Adults with Disabilities” is the first- ever state-level report on the number of people with disabilities and their comparative health status. Thirty-seven percent of those with disabilities were found to be in poor health, compared to only 8 percent of those without. Additionally, rates of smoking and obesity are higher among those with disabilities. West Virginia has the highest percentage of adults with disabilities, at nearly 26 percent of residents. Kentucky (24.7 percent) and Oregon (23.7 percent) were also near the top of the list. Hawaii has the lowest rate at just over 11 percent, followed by North Dakota (15.9 percent) and Illinois (15.9 percent). Overall, the southeast region reported the poorest health for the disabled.
TOBACCO
Advertisements discouraging teen smoking may have the opposite effect, according to a study to be published in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers compared data from surveys of eighth, tenth and twelfth graders and looked at television ratings from 75 media markets. The study found that increased exposure to advertisements actually led to increases in teen smoking. Additionally, teens who viewed the commercials were less likely to think of smoking as harmful and more likely to approve of smoking. Eighth graders were most likely to believe that the commercials exaggerated the health problems of smoking. But older teens expressed stronger approval of smoking than younger ones. The researchers believe that advertisements do not contain enough substance, saying they offered no reason for not smoking beyond simply being a teenager. In addition, researchers wrote, “Exposure to tobacco company parent-targeted advertising may have harmful effects on youth, especially among youth in grades 10 and 12.” The ads were mostly created by tobacco companies as part of a national campaign against youth-smoking. A spokesman for Philip Morris USA told the Washington Post that the ads were tested to weed out any unintended messages, and that parents were more likely to discuss smoking with their teens after viewing the ads.
Look out Heart Disease—Here Comes Cancer
Cancer is now the top killer in the state of Washington, replacing heart disease as the leading cause of death in the state. The number of deaths from both causes has been steadily decreasing since 1999, although deaths from heart disease have decreased at a faster rate. Department of Health officials attribute much of this change to a statewide drop in smoking, citing the link between quitting smoking and decreasing one’s risk of heart disease. The Evergreen State currently has the fifth lowest rate of adult smoking in the nation. The overall number of smokers in the state has dropped by 21 percent during the last five years.
Smaller and More Efficient Health Care
In an effort to reign in rising health-care costs, Toyota is building a health clinic for employees and dependents into its brand-new factory in San Antonio, Texas. The $9 million clinic will provide a wide array of services, including eye care, dental services, pediatrics, laboratory tests and physical therapy. Health-care costs for the company have grown substantially in recent years and now average $11,000 per worker per year. Toyota will likely experience increased up-front costs for primary care and prescription drugs, but also expects to see savings from fewer hospitalizations and special care visits. The company also expects the clinic to reduce absenteeism rates. Employees are not required to use the on-site clinic. However, employees who get their care elsewhere will have to pay higher co-pays and deductibles. The clinic is the first of its kind for Toyota. “If it's successful, we'll spread the concept to other plants,” said plant manager Hidehiko "T.J." Tajima to the Detroit News.
© Copyright 2006, State Health Notes
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