Studies reveal why life expectancy is shorter for people living in Stanislaus County
Public health studies suggest that residents in Stanislaus County are living shorter lives than people in other parts of California.
The county’s average life expectancy came into sharp focus last month when a public health report estimated the average lifespan at 74 years, in a state that has boasted an average life expectancy of 81 years.
It calls attention to conditions in Stanislaus County and the San Joaquin Valley — such as poverty, high rates of chronic disease and air pollution — that contribute to poor health and shorter lifespans for many residents.
“California overall has one of the best life expectancy (averages) in the nation,” said Dr. Thea Papasozomenos, the county’s public health officer. “We do have some work to do in catching up with the rest of the state. We have certainly made progress in some areas.”
Going into the COVID-19 pandemic, life expectancy in Stanislaus County was computed at 77.3 years, and the state estimate was 81 years.
But county public health staff came up with a figure of 74 years after COVID-19 deaths were included in their analysis.
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, released in July, estimated that California’s life expectancy dropped to 78.4 years amid the COVID surges of 2021. As the three-year pandemic causes fewer deaths, it isn’t known whether California’s life expectancy rebounded in 2022.
According to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, which tracks health data in counties nationwide, Stanislaus ranks 11th among counties in California with the shortest lifespans. Based on data from 2018 to 2020, San Joaquin, at 77.7 years, and Merced, at 78.2 years, are also in the bottom half of California’s 58 counties in terms of life expectancy.
The estimates vary along racial lines. The average life for people of American Indian descent is 71.6 years and it’s 71.8 years for Black people in Stanislaus County. Asians live the longest (82 years), while Latinos average 80.9 years and non-Latino white people 75.8 years.
Numerous studies have shown that Stanislaus and other counties in the San Joaquin Valley have large low-income populations, often clustered in racially segregated neighborhoods.
Health experts also cite under-investment in health care facilities and physician shortages as a cause of poor health outcomes for Valley residents.
Stanislaus County’s Public Health Annual Report for 2022 shows the cancer death rate is 152.1 per 100,000, well above the 131.4 per 100,000 in the state.
High rate of asthma
The county has a high rate of heart disease. Also, the public health report highlights areas of concern, such as physical inactivity and a higher percentage of adults who smoke. In addition, the Valley’s air pollution is connected with high rates of asthma.
Nancy Burke, a public health professor at UC Merced, said it’s widely known that language barriers and immigration background are factors in adverse health outcomes, but many people also suffer from the Valley’s unhealthy environment.
“I would say the environment we are living in, the air we are breathing and the neighborhoods we are living in, situations for people at the workplace, all contribute to our health outcomes,” Burke said. “It’s true we have a dearth of health care providers, but it would also help to make sure everyone has access to a stable income, so people are not stressed about their families.”
Plenty of health studies have put a lens on the San Joaquin Valley, including one 10 years ago by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center on Human Needs that looked at mortality and environmental hazards.
The study touched on the theme that ZIP codes are a reliable predictor of health status for children and adults from Stockton to Bakersfield. “Areas of central Fresno and northeastern Kern and Stanislaus (counties) have substantially higher rates of asthma hospitalization when compared to the remainder of the San Joaquin Valley,” the Virginia Commonwealth report said.
The Central Valley Health Policy Institute at Fresno State University has reported that life expectancy varied as much as 21 years when ZIP code areas were examined in the San Joaquin Valley.
County health officials said the life expectancy and health data serve to reveal problems so that steps can be taken to reduce inequities, improve access to healthy foods and create safer neighborhoods.
COVID’s future impact
Dr. Papasozomenos, the health officer for Stanislaus County, said she hopes COVID-19 won’t continue to impact life expectancy in the county.
COVID-19 was the second leading cause of death, behind cancer, in the report for 2022.
People in the health industry said changes in patient behavior may ensure the pandemic’s harsh effects will linger. People afraid of catching COVID-19 got in the habit of not seeing their doctor and are no longer making appointments for routine cancer screenings. Even those stricken by illness or injury are delaying treatment, putting their lives at risk.
“We still have people in this county and the state and nation who are hospitalized for COVID and die from COVID-19,” Papasozomenos said. “Hopefully, we won’t have such a big impact in terms of mortality data.”
This story was originally published January 23, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
