Isabella County 15,430 DALYs/yr Pop. 64,565 · FIPS 26073
Clare County 8,198 DALYs/yr Pop. 30,013 · FIPS 26035
Midland County 14,335 DALYs/yr Pop. 82,884 · FIPS 26111
Gratiot Q3 2026
Mecosta Q4 2026
Washtenaw Q4 2026

Clare County, Michigan — Health Burden Analysis

Planning-grade DALY framework · Severe opioid crisis, aging rural population, MUA designation · 2026

8,198
DALYs/yr (Primary · Frontier LE)
Frontier LE 89.1 yrs · YLL 4,612 + YLD 3,586 (MH remission-adj)
6,555
DALYs/yr (Sensitivity · MI LE)
Michigan LE 78.6 yrs · YLL 2,358 + YLD 4,197
~850
Mortality rate per 100k (est.)
▲ ~8.6% above MI avg (783) · High-mortality rural
~47/100k
Opioid overdose death rate (est.)
▲ Among highest in Michigan · ~14 deaths/yr
30,013
County population
Census ACS 2022 · FIPS 26035 · Median age 46.8
Planning model — not a validated county burden estimate. Primary: WHO/GBD Frontier LE 89.1 yrs + MH remission adjustment (×0.50) = 8,198 DALYs. Sensitivity (Michigan LE 78.6 yrs) = 6,555 DALYs. Mixed-source: CDC PLACES 2024, Michigan CDC WONDER rates × rural adjustment, IHME GBD 2021 disability weights. ±20% uncertainty applies to all figures. Full methods & data quality notes
Michigan LE 78.6 yrs + MH remission-adjustment = 5,943 DALYs. Primary standard (Frontier LE 89.1) = 8,198 DALYs. Clare County is an MUA-designated, HPSA-designated high-mortality rural county with severe opioid crisis.
Jump to: KPIs Charts Opioid Crisis Economic Burden DALY Table Key Findings Recommendations
~850
Estimated mortality rate per 100k
▲ ~8.6% vs MI (783) · Rural high-mortality
~47/100k
Opioid overdose deaths (est. 14/yr)
▲ Among highest in Michigan
16.8%
Poverty rate (ACS 2022)
▲ vs MI 15% · Up to 22-25% by MDHHS sources
40.5%
Adult obesity (CDC PLACES 2024)
▲ vs MI 36.7% · ▲ vs US 35.3%
8,198
Frontier LE
|
6,555
MI LE
Estimated DALYs/year · YLL + YLD
±20% uncertainty
MUA
Medically Underserved Area + HPSA designation
Primary care & mental health shortage

DALYs by Condition

Disability-Adjusted Life Years · Michigan LE 78.6 · ranked by burden

Interactive — use LE standard and MH prevalence toggles above to recalculate.

Abbreviations: DALY = disability-adjusted life year · YLL = years of life lost · YLD = years lived with disability · MH = mental health · SUD = substance use · CVD = cardiovascular disease · COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · DM = type-2 diabetes

Comorbidity Co-occurrence — Expected Counts

Expected cases with both conditions simultaneously · independence model · Clare County n=30,013 · hover cell for DW product & DALY correction

DM+COPD highest pair (385 expected co-occurring cases). Independence-model planning estimate (prevalence × prevalence × adult population), consistent with the Isabella methodology. Largest DALY-correction pairs: COPD+Cancer (−11.1), COPD+SUD (−10.8), COPD+MH (−10.1).

Abbreviations: MH = mental health · SUD = substance use · CVD = cardiovascular disease · COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · DM = type-2 diabetes · DW = disability weight · DALY = disability-adjusted life year

Social Determinants vs Michigan Average

% of population · CDC PLACES 2024 + ACS 2022

Economic Burden by Condition

Annual productivity loss · DALYs × $62K GDP per capita (human-capital method)

Cancer (~$85M/yr) and the opioid/SUD crisis (~$77M/yr) dominate Clare's measurable economic burden. Each averted DALY ≈ $62,000 recovered — the ROI basis for SAMHSA/HRSA grant budgets. Reactive to the toggles above.

Abbreviations: MH = mental health · SUD = substance use · CVD = cardiovascular disease · COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · DM = type-2 diabetes · DALY = disability-adjusted life year

Disease Burden Detail

Michigan LE 78.6 yrs · No discounting (WHO standard) · Population 30,013

Condition Prevalence Prevalent Cases Deaths/yr (est.) Mean Age at Death YLL DW YLD DALYs Data Source

Mortality derived from Michigan CDC WONDER 2020–22 rates × rural high-mortality adjustment (+15–20%). Prevalence from CDC PLACES 2024 model-based estimates (FIPS 26035). SUD prevalence is a derived estimate — no direct county-level survey. * MH YLD uses active disease prevalence (14.1% = 28.1% × 0.50 remission factor) when remission-adjusted mode is selected.

Methodology
Two standards, one county
Both estimates are valid — they answer different questions about burden.
Sensitivity · MI LE 78.6
6,555
Michigan state life expectancy · Local planning standard · YLL 2,358 + YLD 4,197
CVD #1 · Cancer #2 · MH #3
+MH Remission Adj. ×0.50
5,943
CDC PLACES reports lifetime-diagnosed prevalence. Active burden ×0.50 = 14.1% active. Reduces MH YLD 1,223 → 611.
CVD #1 · Cancer #2 · SUD #3
Primary · Frontier LE 89.1
8,198
WHO GBD frontier LE · Enables cross-county comparison · YLL 4,612 + YLD 3,586 (remission-adj)
CVD #1 · Cancer #2 · SUD #3
Note: All figures are planning estimates. Mortality data derived from Michigan CDC WONDER 2020–22 state rates with rural adjustment. No discounting or age-weighting applied (WHO standard). Disability weights: IHME GBD 2021.

Key Findings

Opioid Crisis — #3 Burden · ~1,247 DALYs (MI LE)

Opioid overdose death rate estimated at ~47/100k — among the highest in Michigan. Approximately 14 opioid deaths/year in a population of 30,013. SUD kills at a mean age of 44 (34.6 years of remaining life lost per death). Clare County's opioid crisis is structural: high poverty, older workforce, limited MAT access, and MUA designation all compound risk. Neonatal abstinence syndrome rates are elevated statewide in rural Michigan counties.

Aging Population — Elevated CVD & Cancer Burden

Clare County's median age is 46.8 years versus Michigan's ~40 — one of the oldest counties in the state. This demographic drives the #1 ranking for cardiovascular disease (710 DALYs, MI LE) and #2 for cancer (1,372 DALYs). CVD accounts for 82.8 estimated deaths/year. An older, rural population also means higher COPD burden (12.7% prevalence vs. MI ~8.2%) and greater disability years relative to mortality.

Mental Health — 28.1% Prevalence · #3 DALY Driver

CDC PLACES 2024 reports 28.1% lifetime-diagnosed mental health prevalence — well above state and national averages. With remission adjustment (×0.50 active burden = 14.1%), MH contributes ~611 YLD. Clare is MUA-designated with severe mental health provider shortages. The intersection of SUD + mental health comorbidity (dual diagnosis) creates disproportionate burden in this population.

Poverty & Social Determinants

16.8% poverty rate by ACS 2022 (estimated 22–25% by MDHHS sources). Median household income of $42,100 versus Michigan's ~$63,000. Physical inactivity at 30.4%, obesity 40.5%, smoking 19.5%. These SDOH are structural drivers of every health condition in the DALY model. Medicaid-heavy payer mix reduces hospital margins and limits specialist access, further compounding the access gap.

COPD — Elevated Respiratory Burden

COPD prevalence of 12.7% is well above Michigan average (~8.2%). This reflects the county's high smoking rates (19.5%), older population, and occupational/environmental exposures. COPD contributes 868 DALYs (MI LE) — the 4th largest driver. Smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation are high-ROI interventions in this population.

Diabetes & Hypertension — Chronic Disease Cluster

Diabetes prevalence of 15.4% (vs MI ~11%) and hypertension at 35.4% signal a severe chronic disease cluster. Both are amplified by obesity (40.5%), physical inactivity (30.4%), and limited preventive care access. Diabetes contributes 351 DALYs and is a multiplicative risk factor for CVD, stroke, and COPD mortality.

Abbreviations: DALY Disability-Adjusted Life Year  ·  YLL Years of Life Lost (premature mortality)  ·  YLD Years Lived with Disability  ·  MH Mental Health Disorders  ·  SUD Substance Use Disorders (opioids primary)  ·  CVD Cardiovascular Disease  ·  COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease  ·  DM Diabetes Mellitus Type 2  ·  DW Disability Weight (IHME GBD 2021)  ·  LE Life Expectancy  ·  MUA Medically Underserved Area  ·  HPSA Health Professional Shortage Area  ·  MAT Medication-Assisted Treatment  ·  NAS Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Evidence-Based Recommendations

Prioritized by DALY impact and Clare County context · Clare-specific MUA/HPSA designations qualify for additional federal funding streams

1
MAT telehealth for opioid use disorder

SUD · ~14 opioid deaths/year · mean age 44 · 34.6 life-years lost per death · Buprenorphine + naltrexone via telehealth addresses geographic access barriers

Strong
2
AI-assisted CVD risk stratification in primary care

CVD · 82.8 deaths/year · 35.4% hypertension · Older population amplifies benefit · Community health worker hypertension control + remote monitoring

Strong
3
Cancer screening navigation + teleoncology

Cancer · 60.5 deaths/year at mean age 67 · Rural travel barriers reduce screening rates · Stage-shift = highest mortality impact per dollar in rural settings

Strong
4
Integrated behavioral health in primary care

MH + SUD · 28.1% MH prevalence · Collaborative care model (IMPACT) + SUD co-management · Addresses dual diagnosis burden at point of care

Moderate–Strong
5
Tobacco cessation + COPD pulmonary rehab via telehealth

COPD · 12.7% prevalence · 19.5% smoking · Michigan Tobacco Quitline + NRT through Medicaid · Telehealth pulmonary rehab for rural access

Strong
Planning-grade estimate — methodology note. All DALY figures are derived from public data sources: CDC PLACES 2024 (prevalence, model-based county estimates), Michigan CDC WONDER 2020–22 (mortality rates, applied with rural adjustment), IHME GBD 2021 (disability weights), and Census ACS 2022 (demographics). Mortality for Clare County is estimated from Michigan state rates adjusted +15–20% to reflect documented high-mortality rural status — direct county-level vital statistics were not available via the automated pipeline. SUD/opioid prevalence is a derived estimate. Uncertainty: ±20% on all DALY components. These estimates are intended for grant applications, community health needs assessments, and program planning — not for clinical or regulatory decisions. For peer-reviewed analysis, see the Isabella County methodology supplement.