Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions
Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Unequal Paths to Care: How Region, Rurality, and Deprivation Determine Transport to Verified Trauma Centers among the Critically Injured
Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Can Schools Detect Mild Hearing Loss? Evaluating Screening Accuracy and Feasibility
Examines the feasibility of accurate screening for mild hearing loss in rural Alaska. Analyzes results of screening 318 children with two pure-tone hearing screening levels and discusses the importance of accurate and reliable screening methods in rural schools.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Jasmine Stewart, Christina Reaves, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 207, 112849
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the feasibility of accurate screening for mild hearing loss in rural Alaska. Analyzes results of screening 318 children with two pure-tone hearing screening levels and discusses the importance of accurate and reliable screening methods in rural schools.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Jasmine Stewart, Christina Reaves, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 207, 112849
Date: 08/2026
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Young Adult Urbanicity, Late Midlife Neighborhood Disadvantage, and Cognitive Functioning in Community-Dwelling Older Men
Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Effect of Diagnostic Test Type on Detection of Salmonella Infections — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 2004–2024
Reports on incidence of Salmonella species bacterial infections diagnosed using bacterial culture or culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs). Includes information on the odds that a Salmonella species infection was diagnosed by a culture-based test or a CIDT by location for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Reese Tierney, Robin Pendley Louis, David J. Boxrud, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(29), 377-383
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on incidence of Salmonella species bacterial infections diagnosed using bacterial culture or culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs). Includes information on the odds that a Salmonella species infection was diagnosed by a culture-based test or a CIDT by location for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Reese Tierney, Robin Pendley Louis, David J. Boxrud, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(29), 377-383
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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West Nile Virus and Other Nationally Notifiable Arboviral Diseases — United States, 2024
Reports on the incidence of arboviral diseases, which are spread through bites of infected mosquitoes or ticks. Includes information on the viruses involved, including West Nile virus (WNV). Discusses the transmission cycle, factors that influence disease occurrence, and the importance of timely surveillance.
Author(s): Kimberly E. Mace, Daniel Jacobs, Carolyn V. Gould, J. Erin Staples, Shelby L. Lyons
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(29), 369-376
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on the incidence of arboviral diseases, which are spread through bites of infected mosquitoes or ticks. Includes information on the viruses involved, including West Nile virus (WNV). Discusses the transmission cycle, factors that influence disease occurrence, and the importance of timely surveillance.
Author(s): Kimberly E. Mace, Daniel Jacobs, Carolyn V. Gould, J. Erin Staples, Shelby L. Lyons
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(29), 369-376
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Robotics and Technologies for the Safety and Health of Farmers: A Scoping Review
Reports on the findings of a scoping review regarding the use of robotics and autonomous technology to improve agricultural health and safety. The review includes 26 studies published in English since 2015. Highlights types of technology being used and the scope of health and safety being studied.
Author(s): Aidan Moriarty, Kerri-Lynn Peachey, Tony Lower, Carlos Mesa-Castrillon
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 07/2026
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Reports on the findings of a scoping review regarding the use of robotics and autonomous technology to improve agricultural health and safety. The review includes 26 studies published in English since 2015. Highlights types of technology being used and the scope of health and safety being studied.
Author(s): Aidan Moriarty, Kerri-Lynn Peachey, Tony Lower, Carlos Mesa-Castrillon
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 07/2026
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Telehealth for Community-Engaged Cardiovascular Care in Rural Populations
Discusses how telehealth can support better cardiovascular care for rural patients. Details rural barriers to cardiovascular healthcare and describes telehealth implementation strategies via community partnerships.
Author(s): Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, Madyson Williams, Esa M. Davis
Citation: Circulation, 154(4)
Date: 07/2026
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Discusses how telehealth can support better cardiovascular care for rural patients. Details rural barriers to cardiovascular healthcare and describes telehealth implementation strategies via community partnerships.
Author(s): Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, Madyson Williams, Esa M. Davis
Citation: Circulation, 154(4)
Date: 07/2026
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National Burden of Bicyclist Hospitalizations in the United States by Rurality, 2016–2020
Examines bicycle injuries and hospitalizations in the United States by geography. Utilizes 2016-2020 HCUP-NIS data to analyze 124,000 rural versus urban bicycle hospitalizations, with data further broken down according to patient demographics, hospital region, admission and discharge characteristics, motor vehicle crash (MVC) involvement, and injury severity and/or death.
Author(s): Amir Ghanbari, Ryan M. Carnahan, Joseph E. Cavanaugh, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70194
Date: 07/2026
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Examines bicycle injuries and hospitalizations in the United States by geography. Utilizes 2016-2020 HCUP-NIS data to analyze 124,000 rural versus urban bicycle hospitalizations, with data further broken down according to patient demographics, hospital region, admission and discharge characteristics, motor vehicle crash (MVC) involvement, and injury severity and/or death.
Author(s): Amir Ghanbari, Ryan M. Carnahan, Joseph E. Cavanaugh, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70194
Date: 07/2026
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