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Michigan ranks 34th overall among 50 states on 2016 health report card

Michigan ranks 34th overall among the 50 states in a new report by the United Health Foundation, which analyzed a long list of health outcomes and other indicators. In 2015, Michigan was 35th. This slideshow looks at how Michigan compares to other states on individual indicators, beginning with the indicators where the state ranks best. Note: On the maps, the lighter the shading, the higher the ranking.

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Source: United Health Foundation

How the other states rank

From the report: "Hawaii has ranked first for five straight years and has been in the top spot eight times since 1990, the most for any state in the history of America's Health Rankings. It has been in the top six states since the first edition of America's Health Rankings in 1990. ... Mississippi ranks 50th in 2016. Mississippi has ranked in the bottom three states since the first edition of America's Health Rankings in 1990. Mississippi and Louisiana score far worse than the other states in the bottom five."

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United Health Foundation

Number of primary-care physicians: Michigan ranks 6th

This ranking looks at the number of active primary care physicians (including general practice, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, geriatrics, and internal medicine) per 100,000 population. Michigan has 187.5 primary-care physicians per 100,000 people compared to a national average of 145.3.

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Julie Mack | jmack1@mlive.com

Salmonella: Michigan ranks 8th

Michigan has 10.6 cases of Salmonella for every 100,000 residents compared to a rate of 16.3 nationwide. From the report: "Salmonellosis, caused by the bacterium Salmonella, produces diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms appear 12 to 72 hours after infection. Approximately 1.2 million US Salmonella infections occur annually, with 1 million of them resulting from contaminated food."

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Julie Mack | jmack1@mlive.com

Health insurance: Michigan ranks 10th

This ranking looks at the percentage of the population that lacks health insurance. In Michigan, it was 7.3% compared to 10.6% nationwide. This is the health indicator where Michigan has improved the most in recent years, an improvement attributable to the Affordable Care Act.

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United Health Foundation

Occupational fatalities: Michigan ranks 16th

This ranking looks at the number of fatal occupational injuries in construction, manufacturing, trade, transportation, utilities, and professional and business services per 100,000 workers. Michigan had a rate of 3.8 compared to a national rate of 3.7.

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United Health Foundation

Number of dentists: Michigan ranks 17th

Michigan has 61 dentists per 100,000 compared to a national rate of 60.9.

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United Health Foundation

Disparities in health status: Michigan ranks 18th

This ranking looked at the difference between the percentage of adults with a high school education compared with those without who reported their health is very good or excellent. In Michigan, the gap was 26.3% compared to 29.5% nationwide. Health status improves with educational attainment. In Michigan, 63.8% of college graduates say they have very good or excellent health compared to 39.4% of high school graduates who have not gone to college.

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United Health Foundation

Infectious disease: Michigan ranks 22nd

This ranking looked at rates of chlamydia, pertussis, and Salmonella. From the report: "The three were chosen because they are common diseases representing different transmission mechanisms and therefore different prevention and treatment options. Pertussis (whooping cough) is spread through respiratory droplets, Salmonella is generally spread through food, and chlamydia is sexually transmitted. ... A high incidence of infectious disease may indicate a need for greater investment in public health."

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United Health Foundation

Physical inactivity: Michigan ranks 24th

An estimated 25.5% of Michigan adults have not done any exercise or physical activity outside of their job in the past month compared to a national average of 26.2%, the report says. Inactivity is more common among women; adults who do not have a college degree, and have a household income of less than $50,000 a year. By race/ethnicity, inactivity is most common among Native Americans, followed by Hispanics, African-Americans, whites and Asians.

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Julie Mack | jmack1@mlive.com

Chlamydia: Michigan ranks 27th

Michigan has a chlamydia infection rate of 447.2 cases per 100,000 residents compared to a national rate of 456.1. From the report: "Chlamydia is an asymptomatic sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis that infects both men and women. While easily treated, if left untreated chlamydia can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system. More than 1.4 million chlamydia cases were reported in 2014—making it the most common notifiable disease."

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United Health Foundation

Air pollution: Michigan ranks 29th

This ranking looks at average exposure of the general public to particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in size. In Michigan and nationwide, that exposure has been going down; in Michigan, from 14 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter in 1990 to 8.6 in 2016. The national average for 2016 was 8.9, the report says.

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United Health Foundation

Adolescent immunizations: Michigan ranks 31st

This ranking looked at the percentage of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years who received at least one dose of Tdap since age 10 years, at least one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine, and at least three doses of HPV vaccine (females and males). Michigan ranks third on teens getting the meningococcal vaccine; 15th on HPV vaccine for females; 23rd on HPV vaccine for males, and 48th on the Tdap shots.

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United Health Foundation

Drug deaths: Michigan ranks 31st

Michigan's death rate from drug overdoses is 15.7 per 100,000 residents compared to a national average of 14. A disproportionate number of Michigan victims are men. By race/ethnicity, the death rates are highest among Native Americans, followed by whites, Hispanics and African-Americans. From the report: "Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury deaths in the United States with a record high of 47,055 deaths in 2014. More than six out of 10 drug deaths involve an opioid, primarily prescription pain relievers (morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone) or heroin."

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United Health Foundation

Diabetes: Michigan ranks 31st

This ranking looks at the percentage of adults who reported being told by a health professional that they have diabetes (excludes prediabetes and gestational diabetes). In Michigan, it's 10.7% compared to 9.9% nationwide. It's more common among men than women, and by race/ethnicity, it's most common among African-Americans, followed by whites, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians.

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United Health Foundation

Premature death: Michigan ranks 33rd

This ranking looks at the number of years of potential life lost before age 75 years per 100,000 population. For Michigan, it's 7,689 compared to a national average of 7,054. From the report: "Premature death captures the years of potential life lost before age 75. Deaths occurring in youth cause the measure’s value to increase more than a death in someone closer to age 75. Deaths among youth are more likely to be preventable than deaths in seniors and often indicate health care system failures and/or lifestyle factors. Cancer, unintentional injuries, heart disease, suicide, and perinatal deaths are the US’s top five causes of premature death. Nearly half of US premature deaths are due to behavioral factors such as tobacco use, lack of physical activity, and poor diet."

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Julie Mack | jmack1@mlive.com

Low birthweight: Michigan ranks 34th

The report says 8.4% of Michigan newborns weigh less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) at birth compared to 8% nationwide. African-Americans newsborns were almost twice as likely to be underweight compared to white newborns.

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United Health Foundation

Obesity: Michigan ranks 35th

An estimated 31.2% of Michigan adults are considered obese compared to a national average of 29.8%. The good news: Michigan was the only state besides Colorado to see a slight drop in obesity rates since 2012. By race/ethnicity, obesity is most common among Hispanics, followed by African-Americans, Native Americans, whites and Asians. By income level, it is most common in people with a household income of less than $25,000.

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United Health Foundation

Frequent mental distress: Michigan ranks 35th

This ranking looks at percentage of adults who reported their mental health was not good 14 or more days in the past 30 days. In Michigan, it's 11.9% compared to 11.2% nationwide. By race/ethnicity, Asians are most likely to experience mental distress, followed by Hispanics, African-Americans and whites. Although Asians are mostly likely to experience mental distress, the condition in general decreases as income and education levels increase -- people with an income below $25,000 are four times likely to experience frequent mental distress as compared to peoplee with incomes above $75,000.

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United Health Foundation

Frequent physical distress: Michigan ranks 35th

This ranking looks at percentage of adults who reported their physical health was not good 14 or more days in the past 30 days. In Michigan, it's 13% of adults compared to a national average of 11.4%.

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United Health Foundation

High school graduation rates: Michigan ranks 36th

About 79.8% of Michigan high school students graduate within four years of starting ninth grade. That compares to 83.2% nationwide. This is a factor in a health study because more education typically equates to better health outcomes. By race/ethnicity, Asians are most likely to graduate high school on time, followed by whites, Native Americans, Hispanics and African-Americans.

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United Health Foundation

Violent crime: Michigan ranks 36th

This ranking looked at the number of murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults per 100,000 population. Michigan's rate was 416 cases per 100,000 people compared to a national rate of 383.

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United Health Foundation

Cancer deaths: Michigan ranks 37th

Michigan has 201 cancer deaths per 100,000 people compared to a national rate of 189.8. From the report: "Cancer is the second-leading cause of death. ... Deaths from breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer may be avoided through screening programs that detect cancer in early stages while it is most susceptible to treatment."

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Julie Mack | jmack1@mlive.com

Pertussis: Michigan ranks 37th

Michigan had 14.4 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, per 100,000 people compared to 10.4 nationwide. From the report: "Pertussis (whooping cough) is a contagious respiratory disease that can last 10 weeks and be life-threatening, especially in infants. It is usually spread through coughing or sneezing. Vaccination can reduce transmission."

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United Health Foundation

Public health funding: Michigan ranks 38th

Including both state and federal monies, Michigan spends $58 per person on public health compared to a national average of $94.

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United Health Foundation

Infant mortality: Michigan ranks 38th

This ranking looks at the number of infant deaths (before age 1 year) per 1,000 live births. In Michigan, it's 6.8 deaths per 1,000 births compared to a national average of 5.9.

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United Health Foundation

Children in poverty: Michigan ranks 38th

An estimated 21.1% of Michigan children live below the poverty line compared to 19.7% nationwide. This is part of the health rankings because poor people are more likely to have health issues.

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United Health Foundation

Preventable hospitalizations: Michigan ranks 39th

This ranking measured the number of discharges for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions per 1,000 Medicare enrollees. The rate was 56.1 in Michigan compared to 49.9 nationwide. The issue was more common in Michigan's African-American Medicare patients compared to whites.

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Julie Mack | jmack1@mlive.com

Smoking: Michigan ranks 40th

An estimated 20.7% of Michigan adults smoke cigarettes compared to a national average of 17.5%. The good news: In Michigan, that's down from almost 35% in 1990. Smoking is much more common in adults who do not have a college degree and those who have an income of under $50,000. By race/ethnicity, smoking is most common among Native Americans, followed by African-Americans, whites, Hispanics and Asians.

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United Health Foundation

Excessive drinking: Michigan ranks 41st

The report defines excessive drinking as women who have four or more drinks or men who have had at least five drinks on at one occasion in the past month, or women who have at least eight drinks or men who have at least 15 drinks a week. About 20% of Michigan adults fit that description compared to a national average of 17.7%. By income level, excessive drinking is most common among people with a household income above $75,000; by race/ethnicity, it is most common among Hispanics, followed by whites, African-Americans, Asians and Native Americans.

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United Health Foundation

Cardiovascular deaths: Michigan ranks 42nd

This ranking looked at the number of deaths due to all cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and stroke per 100,000 population. Michigan had 288.7 deaths per 100,000 people compared to a national rate of 251.7. The rate was higher for males, and by race/ethnicity, African-Americans are most likely to die of cardiovascular disease, followed by whites, American Indians, Hispanics and Asians.

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United Health Foundation

Child immunizations: Michigan ranks 44th

This ranking looks at the percentage of children aged 19 to 35 months who received recommended doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP), measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), polio, Haemophilus influenzae (Hib), hepatitis B, varicella, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. In Michigan, it's 67.6% compared to 72.2% nationwide.