Newly released data offer a snapshot of county-level health in Arizona. Maricopa, Yuma and Santa Cruz counties earned some of the highest marks for length and quality of life.
The study was released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It compared factors such as premature death, low birth weight and poor physical and mental health days among residents.
Las Paz, Apache and Gila counties earned some of the worst overall rankings in the state, all of which have seen an increase in premature deaths.
Statewide, the data also show that a majority of Arizona counties are improving their rates of preventable hospital stays among Medicare enrollees. Adult obesity levels, however, are on the rise with 13 counties seeing an increase over the last 10 years.
