Page 20 - 2015 Compass Now

RATIONALE | HEALTH AREAS OF NEED HEALTH

Chronic Disease and • Chronic Disease and Contributing Factors
Contributors to Chronic Disease • Mental Health and/or Substance Abuse
• Oral Health

Chronic diseases are those lasting three months or

longer. Workers with chronic conditions are more likely

to miss work than peers without a chronic disease. The leading chronic diseases in the U.S. (heart disease,

stroke, cancer, diabetes, and obesity) are largely preventable through lifestyle choices and behavior. Trends

in the Great Rivers Region show opportunities for prevention of chronic disease. For instance, in 2010, less

than 25% of adults in the Great Rivers Region reported consuming the recommended servings of fruits and

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vegetables. In addition, nearly 19% of Great Rivers Region community members reported smoking, a rate

higher than both Minnesota and Wisconsin averages. Due to the high cost of treating these chronic and

preventable illnesses, the Health Council determined this was a priority issue, with special attention needed

to access to care and better understanding disparities throughout our community.

Mental Health and/or Substance Abuse

Despite there being limited mental health data available for our community or nationally, mental health
was deemed a priority area of need in the Great Rivers Region. This is in part due to a growing awareness
of the impact mental health issues can have on individuals and their community. According to the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in 2012, 17.3% of the Great Rivers Region’s Medicare fee-for-service
program users lived with depression. This is higher than the Wisconsin average of 15.6% and similar to the
Minnesota average of 17.7%. Also, in 2015, the average mental health provider-to-patient ratio for the Great
Rivers Region was 1,728 patients for every one mental health provider. This is extremely disproportionate to
the Wisconsin and Minnesota ratios of 529:1 and 623:1 patients per provider. This shortage, in part, led the
Health Council to select mental health as a priority area of need.

The abuse or misuse of a psychoactive substance, including alcohol and illicit drugs, can result in negative
health outcomes. In 2012, there were 725 drug arrests for the possession of marijuana within the Wisconsin
counties of the Great Rivers Region and 16 drug-related deaths in the entire Great Rivers Region. One of the
mostly widely used and abused substances in the region is alcohol. Approximately 24% of adults reported
excessive drinking in the past 30 days.

Mental illness and misuse of drugs and alcohol frequently occur together. Drug and alcohol misuse can
sometimes worsen underlying mental illnesses, both during acute intoxication and during withdrawal from a
substance. The fact that mental health and substance abuse are often linked led the Health Council to select
both of these issues as a single priority area of need.

Oral Health

Oral health impacts all aspect of our lives but is often taken for granted or not considered to be as important
as other health promotion practices. The mouth allows for a glimpse into one’s overall health. It can show
signs of nutritional deficiencies or general infection. Systemic diseases (those impacting the entire body)
may first become apparent because of mouth lesions or other oral problems. Poor oral health can also
lead to systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, low birth weight, premature birth, diabetes,
osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. In 2014, 26% of Wisconsin Great Rivers Region adults reported
not receiving a dental visit in the past twelve months. In the COMPASS 2012 Report, oral health was seen
as an emerging health issue. Due to the lack of improvements in the number of providers offering low-cost
services and the impact this can have on one’s life, oral health was determined to be a high priority issue.

12 COMPASS NOW 2015