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Wisconsin Value:
Ratio of the premature death rate of the racial/ethnic group with the highest rate (varies by state) to the non-Hispanic white rate
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Ratio of the premature death rate of the racial/ethnic group with the highest rate (varies by state) to the non-Hispanic white rate
US Value: 1.6
Top State(s): Hawaii, Idaho: 1.0
Bottom State(s): South Dakota: 3.9
Definition: Ratio of the premature death rate of the racial/ethnic group with the highest rate (varies by state) to the non-Hispanic white rate
Data Source and Years(s): CDC WONDER, Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2020
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC WONDER, Multiple Cause of Death Files, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
Rates of disease and mortality are often higher among historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups. Counties that are majority non-Hispanic Black or majority American Indian/Alaska Native have higher rates of premature death than counties that are majority non-Hispanic white.
Studies show that poverty, low education, inadequate social support and racial segregation contribute to premature death. These social factors often converge in minority communities. Structural racism further limits the resources available to racial/ethnic minority communities, where need is highest: Chronic stress due to racial discrimination can set off physiological and psychological chain reactions, manifesting in earlier onset and higher prevalence of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Eliminating racial disparities in premature death would save the United States an estimated $135 billion a year in lost productivity and excess health costs.
According to America’s Health Rankings data, the racial/ethnic groups with the largest disparities in premature death include:
Racial disparities in health endure in the U.S. because of the inequitable systems of power that affect nearly every aspect of life, from the individual, interpersonal and internal level to the institutions where policy, law and resource allocation are determined. The resulting inequalities in the social determinants of health, such as income and wealth, access to quality health care, education and employment, are deeply entangled with one another. According to Healthy People 2030, promoting healthy choices is not enough to eliminate health disparities. They suggest that public health organizations collaborate with other sectors such as education, transportation and housing to improve the conditions in people's social, economic and physical environments.
The health disparities that minority populations experience are different from community to community and local solutions are needed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has documented several strategies for reducing health disparities, including:
Increasing access to mental health and primary care for currently underserved minority populations is also critical for decreasing premature death rates. Currently, there is insufficient research to determine the most effective methods of increasing access to behavioral health and primary care for racial and ethnic minority populations.
One of the overarching goals of Healthy People 2030 is to “attain healthy, thriving lives and well-being free of preventable disease, disability, injury and premature death.” While Healthy People 2030 does not have a specific goal for reducing premature death, it does set goals for many contributors to premature death, including:
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Espey, David K., Melissa A. Jim, Nathaniel Cobb, Michael Bartholomew, Tom Becker, Don Haverkamp, and Marcus Plescia. “Leading Causes of Death and All-Cause Mortality in American Indians and Alaska Natives.” American Journal of Public Health 104, no. S3 (June 2014): S303–11. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301798.
Galea, Sandro, Melissa Tracy, Katherine J. Hoggatt, Charles DiMaggio, and Adam Karpati. “Estimated Deaths Attributable to Social Factors in the United States.” American Journal of Public Health 101, no. 8 (August 2011): 1456–65. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.300086.
Henning-Smith, Carrie, Ashley M. Hernandez, Marizen Ramirez, Rachel Hardeman, and Katy Kozhimannil. “Dying Too Soon: County-Level Disparities in Premature Death by Rurality, Race, and Ethnicity.” Policy Brief. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, March 2019. http://rhrc.umn.edu/wp-content/files_mf/1552267547UMNpolicybriefPrematureDeath.pdf.
Joseph, Djenaba A. “Use of Evidence-Based Interventions to Address Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening.” MMWR Supplements 65, no. 1 (2016). https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su6501a5.
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Krieger, Nancy, Jarvis T. Chen, Brent A. Coull, Jason Beckfield, Mathew V. Kiang, and Pamela D. Waterman. “Jim Crow and Premature Mortality Among the US Black and White Population, 1960–2009: An Age–Period–Cohort Analysis.” Epidemiology 25, no. 4 (July 2014): 494–504. https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0000000000000104.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, and Committee on Community-Based Solutions to Promote Health Equity in the United States. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity. Edited by Alina Baciu, Yamrot Negussie, Amy Geller, and James N. Weinstein. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2017. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425848/.
Phelan, Jo C., and Bruce G. Link. “Is Racism a Fundamental Cause of Inequalities in Health?” Annual Review of Sociology 41, no. 1 (2015): 311–30. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-073014-112305.
Quiñones, Ana R., Maya O’Neil, Somnath Saha, Michele Freeman, Stephen R. Henry, and Devan Kansagara. Interventions to Improve Minority Health Care and Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities. VA Evidence-Based Synthesis Program Reports. Washington, D.C.: Department of Veterans Affairs, 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK82564/.
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Turner, Ani. “The Business Case for Racial Equity: A Strategy for Growth.” Battle Creek, MI: W.K. Kellogg Foundation & Altarum, 2018. https://altarum.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-publication-files/WKKellogg_Business-Case-Racial-Equity_National-Report_2018.pdf.
Williams, David R., Jourdyn A. Lawrence, and Brigette A. Davis. “Racism and Health: Evidence and Needed Research.” Annual Review of Public Health 40, no. 1 (April 1, 2019): 105–25. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040218-043750.
Woods, Elizabeth R., Urmi Bhaumik, Susan J. Sommer, Elaine Chan, Lindsay Tsopelas, Eric W. Fleegler, Margarita Lorenzi, et al. “Community Asthma Initiative to Improve Health Outcomes and Reduce Disparities Among Children with Asthma.” MMWR Supplements 65, no. 1 (February 12, 2016): 11–20. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su6501a4.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.