Sedgwick County lags state, nation in health outcomes

Sedgwick County ranked below the average county in Kansas and the nation on several health outcomes, according to the 2024 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps prepared by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Sedgwick County had more premature deaths (defined as deaths of people younger than 75), with 9,700 years of life lost per 100,000 people compared with an average of 8,100 years of life lost in other Kansas counties and 8,000 in the nation. Non-Hispanic Blacks had the highest rate of premature deaths in Sedgwick County, with 17,100 years lost per 100,000.

Sedgwick County also had higher child mortality (70 per 100,000 compared with 60 in Kansas and 50 nationally) and slightly higher rates of poor physical or mental health days. Sedgwick County had a slightly higher rate of diabetes but had less HIV prevalence than the national average.

Sedgwick County had higher rates of several behaviors and social factors that can impact health outcomes, including adult smoking, adult obesity, sexually transmitted infections and teen births. It also had higher rates of child poverty, though the rate of income inequality was lower in Sedgwick County than the nation.

On some measures Sedgwick County was better than the state and national averages, including less excessive drinking and alcohol-impaired driving deaths and a higher flu vaccination rate. Sedgwick County also had a higher ratio of primary care physicians to population (1 per 1,120 citizens compared with 1 per 1,280 in Kansas and 1 per 1,330 nationally).

To read the report, visit countyhealthrankings.org.