Health Trends in King County

The following public health trends are from King County in Washington State. I contacted James Apa who is the communications manager at the public health department. My information comes from him, as well as the King County Public Health Website that he directed me to. Many of the trends in the area can be attributed to social inequalities of society, such as differences in income.

The major cause of death and hospitalizations is injuries. Between the ages of 1 and 44, injuries are the leading cause of death in King County. They were also the leading cause of hospitalizations for ages 5-44 and over 85 in the area. Most injuries there are unintentional; for example, motor vehicle accidents. The public health department has many programs focusing on the prevention of these injuries.

There is a pattern of obesity in King County. About one in five children in the area are overweight or obese. The obesity rates have remained high. The major concern for children who are obese is that they are likely to continue into adulthood, which could lead to diabetes and heart disease. A major contribution to obesity among children is the high consumption of sugary drinks. About 31 percent of high school students in King County report they drink soda daily. Obesity rates are higher among males.           

Smoking is another concern in King County. Progress in reducing smoking rates among the adult population has reached a plateau.  The smoking rate among African-Americans in King County is double the rate among whites and four times as much as Asians. If living in a low-income household, an individual is three times more likely to smoke than one in a higher income household. Smoking accounts for one in five deaths in King County.

Asthma is a concern in King County. Asthma is the most common reason for a child to be admitted to the hospital in King County. Hospitalization due to asthma is a sign of poor control of the condition.  Among adults, asthma is more likely to occur among lower income individuals, such as African-Americans or Asian/Pacific Islanders. More than half of those diagnosed with asthma do not receive or take medications. Although asthma rates have decreased, they are still a major concern.

King County has seen a large increase in diabetes in the last ten years. Since obesity is becoming more prevalent, they are concerned that diabetes will increase as well. In King County, African Americans are 2.6 times more likely to be affected by diabetes than whites are. Pacific Islanders have the highest diabetes rates in King County. Like the previously mentioned trends, lower income individuals are more likely to be affected by the condition. A concern with diabetes is that many people do not receive the health services to manage their blood sugar levels.

Kim Davis