In 2014, Cuyahoga County ranked 65 out of 88[1] in Ohio for health outcomes. County Health Ranking compared multiple factors to determine how Cuyahoga County compared to other counties in Ohio including:  length of life, quality of life, health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environments. Mostly preventable chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity were the leading causes of disability and death throughout the county[2].

Comparing Disparities In Two Communities

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According to The Fox Chase Cancer Center, a health disparity can be defined as the existence of inequalities that prevent certain members of a population group from benefiting from the same health status as other groups[3]. Within Cuyahoga County, there are many health disparities when comparing cities and demographics. The Hough neighborhood in Cleveland and Lyndhurst can be compared to illustrate some of the disparities. The communities are both in Cuyahoga County and are less than 10 miles apart. They also have similar populations, but a different racial breakdown according to the 2010 Census. The population of the Hough neighborhood is 16,359 (96.1% Black or African American and 2.1% White American)[4]and the population of Lyndhurst is 14,001 (6.4% Black or African American and 90.3% White American[5]. There is a disparity of 24 years between the life expectancy in the two communities[6]. The residents of the Hough neighborhood have a life expectancy of 64 years and residents in Lyndhurst have a life expectancy of 88.5 years[7]. The annual median income in the Hough neighborhood is $13,630[4] while it is $52,272 in Lyndhurst[5]. According to Harlan Spector of the Plain Dealer, poverty can have a role in determining life expectancy. Almost two-thirds of Hough residents live in what is considered a food desert. The federal government defines a food desert as "a low-income community where a large number of residents live more than one mile away from a full-service grocery store" (Spector).[7] Data collected from the Center for Community Solutions indicated from 1990 to 2001 the rate of heart disease for residents of the Hough neighborhood was around four times the frequency of Lyndhurst residents. The rate of accidental deaths were nine times higher the Hough neighborhood[7]

  1. ^ "Cuyahoga County Health Alliance". wellness.cuyahogacounty.us. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  2. ^ "Ohio's Plan to Prevent and Reduce Chronic Disease" (PDF). healthy Ohio.gov. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  3. ^ "What are Health Disparities". www.fccc.edu. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  4. ^ a b "Hough, Cleveland". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Lyndhurst, Ohio". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "County health rankings in Northeast Ohio tell tale of haves and have nots". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  7. ^ a b c "HBO documentary explores 24-year difference in life expectancy between Lyndhurst and Cleveland's Hough neighborhood". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.