Mat-Su residents less healthy than Alaskans statewide in some respects; healthier in others

As sobering as the Alaska statewide health statistics are in the recently released Alaska Chronic Disease Facts report, data from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough paint a bleaker picture.

However, in the case of some diseases, Mat-Su residents appear to fare better.

Statistics comparing the state and Mat-Su were compiled by two different organizations, the state Department of Health for the statewide perspective and the Mat-Su Health Foundation for the Mat-Su region, and in different years, 2019 for Mat-Su and 2019 and 2021 for the state.

Therefore, some allowance for variances must be allowed. Still, some broad conclusions can be drawn.

In terms of physical activity, 54.9 percent of Mat-Su adults, 18 years or older, engaged in 2.5 hours of moderate exercise or 1.25 hours of vigorous exercise weekly. That compared somewhat favorably with 57.5 percent of adults statewide.

Among older Mat-Su residents, 65 years-plus, 54.2 percent engaged in the 2.5 hours of 1.25 hours of moderste to vigorous exercise, compared with 56.2 percent of older Alaskans statewide.

Mat-Su high school students in traditional “brick and motor” schools were physically active for at least 60 minutes a day seven days a week compared with 17.9 percent of high schoolers statewide.

However, high school students’ exercise in alternative high schools dropped off sharply both in Mat-Su and statewide, the data showed. Only 9.9 percent of alternative Mat-Su high school students were active for at least 60 minutes a day seven days a week, and 11.9 percent of alternative high school students statewide.

The decline was not explained. For Mat-Su middle school students, 93.6 percent were active for 60 minutes for at least one day of the week. There was no comparable figure for the state.

In terms of obesity and being overweight, Mat-Su adults carried more pounds than Alaskans statewide, on average, while high school students were slightly more fit. However, alternative school students were heavier than their peers at traditional schools but both groups showed slightly better against the statewide averages.

Seventy three percent of Mat-Su adults, 18 or over, were overweight or obese against 65.9 percent of Alaskans statewide. Among Mat-Su senior citizens, 67.7 percent were overweight or obese. There were no comparable statistics for seniors statewide.

For heart disease and stroke, Mat-Su residents fared better than Alaskans statewide in 2017 data. The coronary heart disease and stroke death rates, per 100,000 population, were 112 in Mat-Su compared with 133.4 statewide; for deaths from stroke, the figured were 25.6 in Mat-Su verses 34.8 for the state.

Mat-Su fared better for deaths from diabetes also, 7.9 per 100,000 population (in 2018) against 8.4 statewide. However, Mat-Su deaths were higher for residents 65 years or older, at 19.5 per 100,000 population compared with 17.5 for the state. Deaths from cancer in Mat-Su, using 2016 data, were higher than the state in total cancer deaths and deaths from colorectal and lung cancer.

For lung cancer, 69 Mat-Su residents per 100,000 population died compared with 38.9 statewide. For colorectal cancer, 15.4 percent died in Mat-Su against 14.7 statewide, per 100,000 population. For total cancer deaths, 173.5 Mat-Su residents per 100,000 population died in 2016 compared with 157.8 for statewide.

The data is from the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s 2019 Hearing Every Voice report and Mat-Su Community Health Needs Assessment for the same year. Statewide data is from the 2019 state Department of Health and Social Services Alaska Youth Risk Behavioral Health Surveillance report.