LI fares well in statewide county health rankings

According to a national report, Nassau and Suffolk residents are pretty healthy - at least compared with other counties in the state.

In the study, released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin, Nassau was rated tops in the state for such factors that affect health as tobacco use, wealth and access to medical care. It was sixth for both length and quality of life.

Suffolk ranked eighth statewide in health factors and 18th in overall health and mortality.

The first-time report ranked every county in all 50 states according to health outcomes, including premature death and chronic illnesses. It also rated each county's health factors, such as diet and exercise, access to health care, education levels and the quality of the environment, which contribute to overall health.

"This study shows we are on the right track in setting our health care priorities in Suffolk and in implementing programs and services of greatest need," said Suffolk's acting health commissioner, Dr. Linda Mermelstein, in a statement.

But other health officials, while applauding the study, cautioned that it overlooked groups with health problems.

Dr. Guthrie Birkhead, deputy commissioner for public health at the state Department of Health, pointed out that the higher-ranking of New York's 62 counties tended to be suburban and wealthier. Yet they, too, have pockets of poverty and ill health. "Even in the highest-scoring counties, you still have health issues," Birkhead said.

Nassau Health Commissioner Dr. Maria Torroella Carney agreed. Although she was happy with Nassau's ranking, "we still have a lot to work on," she said. For instance, she said, 21 percent of county residents are obese.

Mermelstein attributed Suffolk's lower ranking to its having "more pockets of poverty than Nassau."

Nassau had the state's lowest rate of premature deaths, and was 17th in chronic illness. Suffolk was 17th in premature deaths and 25th in chronic illness.

Only in physical environment, which looked at air quality, the number of liquor stores and access to healthy food, did Long Island fare poorly: Nassau ranked 32nd, Suffolk 58th.