Independent researchers confirm life expectancy varies up to 11 years among Tulsa ZIP codes.
Derek Chapman with Virginia Commonwealth University said along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, they’ve looked at life expectancies in several areas and created maps showing the ranges.
"We've released several of them so far, and we see gaps ranging from 10 up to 20 years in some locations across just 5 to 10 miles," Chapman said.
The VCU map shows Tulsans in the 74106 ZIP code can expect to live 70 years, while those in 74137 can expect to live 81. There’s also variation from neighborhood to neighborhood.
"It's not just a bunch of 81s and a bunch of 70s," Chapman said. "We see 71s and 76s and 79s, so these neighborhood effects have an influence on all of us, to different degrees."
VCU’s map comes a few months after Tulsa Health Department studied the city’s life expectancy. The health department found an 11-year gap as well. Tulsa Health Department’s Joani Dotson said focusing on health care isn’t the solution, because a broad range of economic and social factors contribute to the differences.
"Like if jobs are available, public education has proper funding for students, folks have access to grocery stores close to their home and can access healthy foods," Dotson said.
VCU's study noted there are several initiatives underway here to address the problem in Tulsa.
