Utah ranks No. 3 in U.S. on life span

Utah always seem to fare well in reports that look at longevity and health. In a study just released by Harvard School of Public Health researchers, Utah ranks No. 3 for life span with an average of 78.7 years. Morgan and Summit counties made the top 25 list for longevity at 80.8 years.

It's not a surprise to Utah health experts, says Cody Craynor, spokesman for the Utah Department of Health, although he's not sure anyone can explain all the factors that contribute to longevity.

Utah's top death causes are similar to the rest of the country, with heart disease leading, followed by cancer and stroke, then unintentional injuries and respiratory diseases. But Utah's death rates from those causes are somewhat better than most of the nation. And Utah looks very good in some areas that counter those health problems.

For instance, says Craynor, more than 90 percent of adult Utahns had their blood pressure checked in 2004 and 63 percent had their cholesterol checked.

Physical activity is closely tied to cardiovascular health. And the percentage of Utahns who are physically active, 26, is higher than the 24 percent regionally or 22 percent nationally, according to Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance data from the health department.

Utah has the lowest cancer rates in the nation, Craynor says. "Our mortality for lung cancer is dramatically lower." He also credits environmental and community factors like Utah's clean air laws and efforts to reduce second-hand smoke exposure as contributing to low rates.

Public health officials see a link between education and healthy behavior and outcomes. Education helps consumers learn about and live healthy lifestyles and also understand and follow doctor recommendations and treatment options. Utah in 2004 ranked No. 3 in terms of high school graduates.

Craynor says Utah is sixth best for infant mortality and 10th best for motor vehicle deaths — two areas of very premature death.

And finally, some health conditions seem to be particularly high among certain ethnic groups. For instance, African-American men have a significantly higher risk of prostate cancer. Diabetes and obesity are both prevalent in some ethnic communities. But Utah has lower rates of ethnic diversity and is therefore not as impacted by diseases that are more likely in various ethnic communities, he says.

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E-mail: lois@desnews.com