New Health Rankings: Of 17 Nations, U.S. Is Dead Last

[Crabtownboy]

No surprise here that the US is so far down the list.

We've known for years that Americans tend to be overweight and sedentary, and that our health care system, despite being the priciest in the world, produces some less-than-plum results. Health nerds who closely follow the news may even have known that we live shorter lives than people in other rich nations, and that infants in the U.S. die from various causes at far higher rates.

But a fresh report, out Wednesday, tapped vast stores of data to compare the health of affluent nations and delivered a worrisome new message: Americans' health is even worse than we thought, ranking below 16 other developed nations.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/01/new-health-rankings-of-17-nations-us-is-dead-last/267045/#

 

[Don]

This study lumps homicides and injuries in with illness, and then says because there are homicides, we're less healthy.

 

[Crabtownboy]

This study lumps homicides and injuries in with illness, and then says because there are homicides, we're less healthy.

I'd say it is very detrimental to my health to be murdered.

We surely could do better in our health-care than what is currently being provided.

 

[InTheLight]

This study lumps homicides and injuries in with illness, and then says because there are homicides, we're less healthy.

That was a bit unfair, but there is still this:

The U.S. has...
The highest chance that a child will die before age 5
The second-highest rate of death by coronary heart disease
The second-highest rate of death by lung disease
The highest teen pregnancy rate
The highest rate of women dying due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth

In addition I know from past studies that the U.S. is ranked something like 27th in life expectancy, down from #1 in 1946.

 

[Salty]

There are 196 nations in the world - so assuming the United States rank above the other 179 - that would put the US in the top 9 %.

So is the "glass" half empty or half full?

 

[InTheLight]

There are 196 nations in the world - so assuming the United States rank above the other 179 - that would put the US in the top 9 %.

So is the "glass" half empty or half full?

It's not fair to compare the U.S. with say, Chad, in health care statistics. Study in the link by the OP compared 17 industrialized wealthy nations, and the U.S. finished last. Glass is less than half-empty.

 

[Salty]

It's not fair to compare the U.S. with say, Chad, in health care statistics. Study in the link by the OP compared 17 industrialized wealthy nations, and the U.S. finished last. Glass is less than half-empty.

Why not?

The report also states:

1) "The report does reveal bright spots: Americans are more likely to survive cancer or stroke, and if we live to age 75 we're likely to keep on living longer than others"

2) "More of our communities are built around cars, which may discourage exercise."

3) "The highest chance that a child will die before age 5" - but gives no link or or other reference.

4) "The highest rate of death by car accident, also dramatically so"
Could that be because the US has the second most number of vehicles per capita?


Bottom line - you can take any statistic and make it say anything you want it to say.

The best statement in the article was "Not that one factor is likely to be able to explain everything"


Anyways - I am still glad to live in a country that is in the top 10%

 

[InTheLight]

Why not?

We have advantages, you know, things like running water...

Anyways - I am still glad to live in a country that is in the top 10%

For sure, but our for-profit model's quality is dropping in the health care statistics.

 

[Salty]

... Study in the link by the OP compared 17 industrialized wealthy nations, and the U.S. finished last. Glass is less than half-empty.

And what other industrialized nations are below the US?

Check here for all 190+ nations

 

[Revmitchell]

Who determined this and by what standards?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

No surprise here that the US is so far down the list.

Where is Poland & the Czech Republic in this & have you seen whats in the McRib Sang witch

 

[Revmitchell]

The ranking is nothing more than a ploy to put pressure on the US to have a socialist health care system. Nothing reliable about it.

 

[InTheLight]

And what other industrialized nations are below the US?

Check here for all 190+ nations

Your link is to per capita Gross National Product. The U.S. is #2 on that list. So shouldn't we have higher ratings for quality of health care than #17?

 

[Revmitchell]

Your link is to per capita Gross National Product. The U.S. is #2 on that list. So shouldn't we have higher ratings for quality of health care than #17?

Sure we should. If the ranking was credible and anyone who mattered actually cared what these people think.

 

[InTheLight]

Here are some health care statistics comparing the U.S. with many other nations of all categories:

Life Expectancy, U.S. ranking 31st best of 186
Physicians per 1,000 people, U.S. ranking 31st best of 148
Hospital beds per 1,000 people, 37th
Death from cancer, U.S. 9th of 16
Death from stomach cancer, 26th of 26
Death from heart disease, 13th of 26
Death from respiratory disease, 8th of 26
Death from digestive diseases, 16th of 26
Infant death rate, U.S. 43rd
Measles immunization, 67th of 168

We do lead in some things:
Teen birth rate, 1st of 40
Abortions 2nd of 19
Obesity, 1st of 29
Child maltreatment deaths, 1st of 27

Spending on health care, per person, U.S. #1

http://www.nationmaster.com/red/country/us-united-states/hea-health&all=1

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Why not?

The report also states:

1) "The report does reveal bright spots: Americans are more likely to survive cancer or stroke, and if we live to age 75 we're likely to keep on living longer than others"

2) "More of our communities are built around cars, which may discourage exercise."

3) "The highest chance that a child will die before age 5" - but gives no link or or other reference.

4) "The highest rate of death by car accident, also dramatically so"
Could that be because the US has the second most number of vehicles per capita?


Bottom line - you can take any statistic and make it say anything you want it to say.

The best statement in the article was "Not that one factor is likely to be able to explain everything"


Anyways - I am still glad to live in a country that is in the top 10%

Excellent. A complete takedown of the O/P. Nice work.

 

[Aaron]

CBT, Dr. Who et al should promote better health and move to one of the other 16 countries.

 

[General Mung Beans]

To be fair, the United States is the only major First World country to have a population that is not largely homgenous and has large minorities that have been historically disadvantaged.

 

[Don]

I'd say it is very detrimental to my health to be murdered.

We surely could do better in our health-care than what is currently being provided.

Homicide and injuries are not health issues for which you can take medicine, change your lifestyle, or otherwise prevent.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Homicide and injuries are not health issues for which you can take medicine, change your lifestyle, or otherwise prevent.

I completely agree with your. I was responding to Don's comment:

This study lumps homicides and injuries in with illness, and then says because there are homicides, we're less healthy