Table 6 Ratios of values in the least to the most prosperous counties in 2015 and 2019 and an indication of whether the gap between least and most prosperous counties is widening, narrowing, or staying the same

Health Outcomes

Diabetes prevalence

Worse

1.40

1.53

Widening

Fair or poor health

Worse

1.75

1.71

Narrowing

Frequent mental distress

Worse

1.33

1.35

Widening

Frequent physical distress

Worse

1.48

1.52

Widening

Life expectancy

Better

0.93

0.92

Widening

Low birth weight

Worse

1.38

1.38

Unchanged

Mentally unhealthy days

Worse

1.26

1.27

Widening

Physically unhealthy days

Worse

1.42

1.44

Widening

Premature mortality

Worse

1.75

1.85

Widening

Years potential life lost

Worse

1.56

1.46

Narrowing

Clinical Care

Dental workforce

Better

0.57

0.59

Narrowing

Mammography screening rate

Better

0.80

0.80

Unchanged

Mental health workforce

Better

0.72

0.77

Narrowing

PCP workforce

Better

0.59

0.56

Widening

Preventable hospitalization rate

Worse

1.73

1.56

Narrowing

Uninsured

Worse

1.63

1.62

Narrowing

Vaccinated

Better

0.75

0.73

Widening

Health Behaviors

Chlamydia cases

Worse

1.60

1.65

Widening

Excessive drinking

Worse

0.75

0.79

Widening

Food index

Better

0.79

0.76

Narrowing

Food insecurity

Worse

1.62

1.82

Widening

Insufficient sleep

Worse

1.15

1.17

Widening

Limited healthy food access

Worse

1.95

1.89

Narrowing

Obesity

Worse

1.19

1.24

Widening

Physical inactivity

Worse

1.39

1.49

Widening

Smokers

Worse

1.40

1.49

Widening

Physical Environment

Air quality

Worse

1.03

1.03

Unchanged

Severe housing problems

Worse

1.10

1.12

Widening

Social and Economic Factors

Child food program participation

Worse

1.86

1.99

Widening

Children in poverty

Worse

2.50

2.80

Widening

Deaths due to injury

Worse

1.48

1.45

Narrowing

Income inequality

Worse

1.24

1.29

Widening

Membership association rate

Better

1.09

0.99

Narrowing