Description of Indicator
The health status indicator tracks factors such as poor physical health, diabetes, poor mental health, and depressive disorder across gender, age, education, household income, race, and sexual orientation in Pennsylvania.
Why is it Important?
The health status indicators point to the potential need for advances in the prevention and treatment of specific ailments and improved access to care. In addition, these health factors can decrease one’s ability to function in daily life and result in poor quality of life and economic outcomes.
How is the Region Performing ?
Across Pennsylvania, women are more likely than men to experience poor physical and mental health. Although physical health appears to deteriorate with age, mental health appears to improve with age (insofar is it affects the population, and not necessarily as it relates to severity). Physical and mental health are strongest among people with higher education and incomes. People who are White are generally healthier than people who are Black, and straight people are usually healthier than people in the LGBTQ+ community (although straight people are likelier to be diagnosed with diabetes).