Modeling Area-Level Health Rankings.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Rank county health using a Bayesian factor analysis model.

Data sources

Secondary county data from the National Center for Health Statistics (through 2007) and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (through 2009).

Study design

Our model builds on the existing county health rankings (CHRs) by using data-derived weights to compute ranks from mortality and morbidity variables, and by quantifying uncertainty based on population, spatial correlation, and missing data. We apply our model to Wisconsin, which has comprehensive data, and Texas, which has substantial missing information.

Data collection methods

The data were downloaded from www.countyhealthrankings.org.

Principal findings

Our estimated rankings are more similar to the CHRs for Wisco

SUBMITTER: Courtemanche C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4600354 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature