Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Chronic respiratory conditions
Fast Facts: Rates of Chronic Conditions Consistently Higher Among Adults in Rural Areas
Compares the prevalence of chronic health conditions and associated risk factors in rural and urban areas, utilizing 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Includes data on health conditions including obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and depression, among others. Includes state-by-state rural health data for select conditions.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: America's Health Rankings
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Compares the prevalence of chronic health conditions and associated risk factors in rural and urban areas, utilizing 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Includes data on health conditions including obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and depression, among others. Includes state-by-state rural health data for select conditions.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: America's Health Rankings
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Effectiveness of Nirsevimab among Infants in their First RSV Season in the United States, October 2023–March 2024: A Test-Negative Design Analysis
Analyzes the impact of the nirsevimab antibody for infants in their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season. Utilizes 2023-2024 electronic health record (EHR) data from 6 healthcare systems to examine RSV-associated emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization according to patient demographics, social determinants of health, health conditions, and location on the rural-urban continuum.
Author(s): Amanda B. Payne, Steph Battan-Wraith, Elizabeth A.K. Rowley, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 49, 101196
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes the impact of the nirsevimab antibody for infants in their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season. Utilizes 2023-2024 electronic health record (EHR) data from 6 healthcare systems to examine RSV-associated emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization according to patient demographics, social determinants of health, health conditions, and location on the rural-urban continuum.
Author(s): Amanda B. Payne, Steph Battan-Wraith, Elizabeth A.K. Rowley, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 49, 101196
Date: 09/2025
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Combined Prevalence of Chronic Conditions or Obesity for Adults in 2022
Examines the combined prevalence of obesity and chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes, among others, by demographic group, utilizing Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component data. See Figure 6 for a comparison of prevalence between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs.
Author(s): Zhengyi Fang, Rebecca Ahrnsbrak
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Examines the combined prevalence of obesity and chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes, among others, by demographic group, utilizing Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component data. See Figure 6 for a comparison of prevalence between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs.
Author(s): Zhengyi Fang, Rebecca Ahrnsbrak
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Adult Tobacco Use in Vermont
Data brief summarizing tobacco measures from the 2023 Vermont Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a phone survey of adult Vermonters. Features a county-level map showing smoking rates, and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Data brief summarizing tobacco measures from the 2023 Vermont Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a phone survey of adult Vermonters. Features a county-level map showing smoking rates, and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Gaps in Access to Pulmonary Hypertension Care and Opportunities for Improvement: A Multi-Site Qualitative Study
Discusses access barriers to pulmonary hypertension (PH) specialty care in the United States. Utilizes qualitative feedback from staff and patients at 3 PH healthcare centers and discusses issues such as lack of expertise, lack of insurance coverage, and geographic barriers to care, including in rural areas.
Author(s): Kari R. Gillmeyer, Sara Shusterman, Seppo T. Rinne, A. Rani Elwy, Renda Soylemez Wiener
Citation: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 25, 355
Date: 07/2025
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Discusses access barriers to pulmonary hypertension (PH) specialty care in the United States. Utilizes qualitative feedback from staff and patients at 3 PH healthcare centers and discusses issues such as lack of expertise, lack of insurance coverage, and geographic barriers to care, including in rural areas.
Author(s): Kari R. Gillmeyer, Sara Shusterman, Seppo T. Rinne, A. Rani Elwy, Renda Soylemez Wiener
Citation: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 25, 355
Date: 07/2025
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Prevalence and Predictors of Chronic Disease among Rural and Medically Underserved Populations Using Smokeless Tobacco
Examines chronic disease prevalence and associated risk factors among 532 smokeless tobacco (SLT) cessation intervention participants who live in rural and medically underserved communities. Includes data on chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, oral health, and more.
Author(s): Elaine Sang, Susan Silva, Sarah Grenon, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1565910
Date: 05/2025
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Examines chronic disease prevalence and associated risk factors among 532 smokeless tobacco (SLT) cessation intervention participants who live in rural and medically underserved communities. Includes data on chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, oral health, and more.
Author(s): Elaine Sang, Susan Silva, Sarah Grenon, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1565910
Date: 05/2025
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Effectiveness of a Respiratory Therapist-Led, Community-Based Asthma Program in an Under Resourced Rural Border Town in California
Analyzes the impact of the Asthma Community Linkages Project (ACLP), a community-based asthma self-management program delivered through rural health clinics, on asthma control and emergency department visit frequency among 233 asthma patients in Imperial County, California. Highlights the value of the ACLP model for other rural and underserved border settings.
Author(s): Torrie Staten, Ping-Hui Liu, Catalina Holt, Abdullah Alismail
Citation: Respiratory Medicine, 241, 108071
Date: 05/2025
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Analyzes the impact of the Asthma Community Linkages Project (ACLP), a community-based asthma self-management program delivered through rural health clinics, on asthma control and emergency department visit frequency among 233 asthma patients in Imperial County, California. Highlights the value of the ACLP model for other rural and underserved border settings.
Author(s): Torrie Staten, Ping-Hui Liu, Catalina Holt, Abdullah Alismail
Citation: Respiratory Medicine, 241, 108071
Date: 05/2025
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Texas Health Stephenville Enhances Respiratory Care in Erath County
Profiles Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville in rural Texas and their pulmonary rehabilitation services. Discusses the need for pulmonary healthcare access in rural areas.
Author(s): Chandra Caradine
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health Resources
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Profiles Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville in rural Texas and their pulmonary rehabilitation services. Discusses the need for pulmonary healthcare access in rural areas.
Author(s): Chandra Caradine
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health Resources
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Are HHC Scores a Reliable Health Status Indicator Across Rural and Urban Areas?
Examines differences in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk scores between rural and urban Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries and analyzes which factors drive observed differences. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas for 4 chronic conditions in 2019-2020.
Author(s): Craig D. Holden, Alana Knudson, Marilyn Klug, Samantha Augenbraun, Shena Popat
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Examines differences in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk scores between rural and urban Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries and analyzes which factors drive observed differences. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas for 4 chronic conditions in 2019-2020.
Author(s): Craig D. Holden, Alana Knudson, Marilyn Klug, Samantha Augenbraun, Shena Popat
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Mortality by Industry and Occupation — United States, 2020–2022
Reports on mortality due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive lung disease, for men and women by industry and occupation. Includes data on IPF mortality in industries and occupations common in rural areas, such as farming, fishing, and forestry work.
Author(s): Jacek M. Mazurek, Girija Syamlal, David N. Weissman
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(7), 109-115
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on mortality due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive lung disease, for men and women by industry and occupation. Includes data on IPF mortality in industries and occupations common in rural areas, such as farming, fishing, and forestry work.
Author(s): Jacek M. Mazurek, Girija Syamlal, David N. Weissman
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(7), 109-115
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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