Health study: Howard Co. at top; City at bottom
Howard County was the healthiest county in the state and Baltimore City was the least healthy, according to a story in The Sun today.
The information is based on a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Univeristy of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
The study ranked all the counties in Maryland and used data on health outcomes and the length and quality of people's lives. Researchers looked at behaviors such as smoking, clinical care, social and economic circumstances and environmental factors.
In the Baltimore area, Howard was first, Frederick County third, Carroll was fifth, Harford ninth, Anne Arundel 11th, Baltimore County 15th and Baltimore City was 24th.
Howard health officer Dr. Peter L. Beilenson, formerly Baltimore's health officer, said that general wealth and high educational levels helped the county in the survey, but so did public policies like the smoking ban and efforts at getting the uninsured health care.
So, is it any surprise wealthier counties ranked higher than lower-income ones?
Associated Press photo of a smoker
