Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Rural-Urban Disparities in Cardiovascular and Other Competing Risk of Death among Cancer Patients
Examines rural versus urban disparities in cardiovascular (CVD) death among cancer patients. Utilizes 1990-2017 data from 2,022,482 cancer patients and provides data breakdowns according to mortality, rural versus urban location, and cause of death. Discusses non-cancer and CVD death burden in cancer patients living in rural areas.
Author(s): Tianwang Guan, Jiaqi He, Liangjia Zeng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Advanced Research, 85, 725-736
Date: 07/2026
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Examines rural versus urban disparities in cardiovascular (CVD) death among cancer patients. Utilizes 1990-2017 data from 2,022,482 cancer patients and provides data breakdowns according to mortality, rural versus urban location, and cause of death. Discusses non-cancer and CVD death burden in cancer patients living in rural areas.
Author(s): Tianwang Guan, Jiaqi He, Liangjia Zeng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Advanced Research, 85, 725-736
Date: 07/2026
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Strengthening Rural Health Centers: Challenges, Innovations, and Opportunities
Provides an overview of how health centers serve rural residents. Describes workforce and geographic challenges rural health centers face. Includes data on states where rural health centers serve over half of all health center patients in the state. Discusses areas for key investments to strengthen the ability of health centers to serve their patients and communities.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Provides an overview of how health centers serve rural residents. Describes workforce and geographic challenges rural health centers face. Includes data on states where rural health centers serve over half of all health center patients in the state. Discusses areas for key investments to strengthen the ability of health centers to serve their patients and communities.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Frequent Police Contact and Nonfatal Overdose among People Who Use Drugs in Rural Appalachia
Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Exploring Associations Between Well-Being, Mental Distress, and Five Dimensions of Social Capital in Rural Georgia
Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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A National Description of Emergency Medical Services Patient Utilization Patterns
Evaluates 9,508,809 emergency medical services encounters from 2024 to identify utilization patterns. Categorizes patients into single, moderate, high, and very-high utilization groups and explores various demographic and health conditions within those groups. Includes comparison of urban, rural, and super-rural areas for very-high utilization and single encounter groups.
Author(s): Antonio R. Fernandez, Jonathan Brent Myers, Scott S. Bourn, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(6)
Date: 06/2026
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Evaluates 9,508,809 emergency medical services encounters from 2024 to identify utilization patterns. Categorizes patients into single, moderate, high, and very-high utilization groups and explores various demographic and health conditions within those groups. Includes comparison of urban, rural, and super-rural areas for very-high utilization and single encounter groups.
Author(s): Antonio R. Fernandez, Jonathan Brent Myers, Scott S. Bourn, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(6)
Date: 06/2026
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Validity of Area-Based Social Risk Indices Used at Higher-Level Geographies and Clinic Locations
Assesses the suitability of the Reproducible Area Deprivation Index (ReADI, Social Deprivation Index (SDI), and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) for correctly representing patient risk and health outcomes at 5 geographic levels for both patient and clinic addresses. Discusses the usefulness of the social risk indices for researchers lacking small area location data.
Author(s): Nathaniel Hendrix, Nicole Gladish, Neil S. Kamdar, David H. Rehkopf
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6)
Date: 06/2026
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Assesses the suitability of the Reproducible Area Deprivation Index (ReADI, Social Deprivation Index (SDI), and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) for correctly representing patient risk and health outcomes at 5 geographic levels for both patient and clinic addresses. Discusses the usefulness of the social risk indices for researchers lacking small area location data.
Author(s): Nathaniel Hendrix, Nicole Gladish, Neil S. Kamdar, David H. Rehkopf
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6)
Date: 06/2026
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County Economic Status in Appalachia, FY 2027
Shows levels of economic distress in Appalachian counties based on unemployment rates, income, and poverty levels. Includes interactive map, downloadable maps and data files, and data report.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Shows levels of economic distress in Appalachian counties based on unemployment rates, income, and poverty levels. Includes interactive map, downloadable maps and data files, and data report.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Receipt of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Among Rural Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Excess Weight
Analyzes how receipt of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) varies among rural and urban-dwelling veterans with obstructive sleep apnea and excess weight, using 2018-2023 Veterans Health Administration data.
Author(s): Aristotle G. Leonhard, Kevin Josey, Jason M. Castaneda, et al.
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 23(7), 1087-1096
Date: 06/2026
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Analyzes how receipt of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) varies among rural and urban-dwelling veterans with obstructive sleep apnea and excess weight, using 2018-2023 Veterans Health Administration data.
Author(s): Aristotle G. Leonhard, Kevin Josey, Jason M. Castaneda, et al.
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 23(7), 1087-1096
Date: 06/2026
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Non-Federal Acute Care Hospital Electronic Health Record Adoption, 2008–2024
Explores trends in electronic health record (EHR) adoption among acute care hospitals between 2010 and 2024 using data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on EHR adoption by hospital characteristics, by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, and independent/system affiliation.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Explores trends in electronic health record (EHR) adoption among acute care hospitals between 2010 and 2024 using data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on EHR adoption by hospital characteristics, by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, and independent/system affiliation.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Inpatient Outcomes and Complications After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Rural Versus Urban Hospitals in the United States
Examines how outcomes and complications of left atrial appendage occlusion for treatment of atrial fibrillation differed by rural or urban hospital location, using 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample data.
Author(s): Amanda Nguyen, Muhammad Zia Khan, Joseph Neely, et al.
Citation: Clinical Cardiology, 49(7), e70397
Date: 06/2026
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Examines how outcomes and complications of left atrial appendage occlusion for treatment of atrial fibrillation differed by rural or urban hospital location, using 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample data.
Author(s): Amanda Nguyen, Muhammad Zia Khan, Joseph Neely, et al.
Citation: Clinical Cardiology, 49(7), e70397
Date: 06/2026
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