OHIO — A recent report from The Health Policy Institute of Ohio shows residents living in rural, Appalachian counties are dying earlier than Ohioans in other counties.

What You Need To Know

  • The report focused on access to health care and the outcomes using county types developed for the Ohio Rural Health Improvement Plan

  • The data reveals that in the past decade, deaths of ages 75 and under have greatly increased across the state

  • Data shows 40% of rural Ohio didn't have access to locations for exercise in the years of 2020, 2022 and 2023; in urban areas, just 9% reported not having somewhere to exercise in those same three years

The report focused on access to health care and the outcomes using county types developed for the Ohio Rural Health Improvement Plan. The data reveals that in the past decade, deaths of ages 75 and under have greatly increased across the state. 

Between the years of 2008 to 2010 for Ohioans under the age of 75, there were 428 deaths in rural, Appalachian counties. Between those same years, there were 386 deaths in rural counties and 378 deaths in Ohio overall. 

For the same age group, between the years of 2019 and 2021, deaths jumped. In rural, Appalachian counties, there were 527 deaths reported, compared to the 460 in rural areas and the 454 deaths in Ohio overall. 

The report goes on to say that there are a lot of conditions than can impact early death rates, including access to transportation, areas for physical activity (sidewalks, parks and gyms) and more. Data shows 40% of rural Ohio didn’t have access to locations for exercise in the years of 2020, 2022 and 2023. In urban areas, just 9% reported not having somewhere to exercise in those same three years.

 

 

 

 

Additionally, those in rural, Appalachian counties had a higher percentage of Ohioans who were uninsured in 2022, as shown through U.S. Census Bureau data. 

While most have insurance, health care access is still a challenge for many due to the lack of primary care, dental and mental health providers. Rural Ohio had just 42 primary care providers per 100,000 people in 2021, compared to the 75 primary care providers per 100,000 statewide. 

In 2022, rural Ohio had 41 dental providers per 100,000 people compared to 65 statewide. In 2023, there were 236 mental health providers per 100,000 people in rural Ohio compared to 326 statewide.

 

The report also highlight causes of death, which included drug overdoses, suicide and heart disease. Rural, Appalachian counties had a much higher death rate from drug overdoses and suicide compared to rural counties in 2023. More rural Ohioans also died from heart disease compared to Ohio overall in 2021, 2022 and 2023. 

To read the full report, click here.