Chronic Disease in Rural America – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Chronic Disease in Rural America.
Prevalence of Selected Chronic Conditions Among Adults Age 45 and Older, by Age and Urbanization Level: United States, 2024
Provides data on the prevalence of heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke among adults age 45 and older by level of rurality, using data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Xun Wang, Lindsey I. Black
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Provides data on the prevalence of heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke among adults age 45 and older by level of rurality, using data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Xun Wang, Lindsey I. Black
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Identification and Characteristics of Under-Resourced and High-Need Rural Counties
Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Geographic and Sociodemographic Patterns in Prevalence of Diagnosed Diabetes, US, 2021–2024
Analyzes the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in rural and urban populations using 2021-2024 NHIS data. Includes rural-urban data comparisons by sociodemographic group, including sex, age, body mass index, race and ethnicity, income level, food security status, and more.
Author(s): Nicholas Yell, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie L. Odahowski, Elizabeth Crouch, Gabriel A. Benavidez
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 04/2026
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Analyzes the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in rural and urban populations using 2021-2024 NHIS data. Includes rural-urban data comparisons by sociodemographic group, including sex, age, body mass index, race and ethnicity, income level, food security status, and more.
Author(s): Nicholas Yell, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie L. Odahowski, Elizabeth Crouch, Gabriel A. Benavidez
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 04/2026
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Aerobic Physical Activity Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2024
Offers data highlighting aerobic physical activity among adults. Includes a data breakdown by 4 levels of urbanization in addition to other demographic characteristics, family income, education, disability status, and body mass index.
Author(s): Nazik Elgaddal, Ellen A. Kramarow
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers data highlighting aerobic physical activity among adults. Includes a data breakdown by 4 levels of urbanization in addition to other demographic characteristics, family income, education, disability status, and body mass index.
Author(s): Nazik Elgaddal, Ellen A. Kramarow
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Rural-Urban Trends in Pediatric Emergency Department Visits for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions from 2016-2019
Examines trends in pediatric emergency department visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), including gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, asthma, and diabetes, and discusses the role of primary care access in reducing ACSC-related hospitalizations. Provides data breakdowns by level of rurality and year, race and ethnicity, and health condition using 2016-2019 State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) data.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Examines trends in pediatric emergency department visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), including gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, asthma, and diabetes, and discusses the role of primary care access in reducing ACSC-related hospitalizations. Provides data breakdowns by level of rurality and year, race and ethnicity, and health condition using 2016-2019 State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) data.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Rural-Urban Trends in the Burden of Diabetes Among U.S. Adults
Describes the national incidence and prevalence of diabetes between 2021-2023 using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Presents data on diabetes-related mortality between 2018-2023 from the CDC WONDER platform. Compares the incidence, prevalence, and mortality data across large metro, small metro, and non-metro counties. Highlights areas of the country with significantly higher and lower diabetes-related mortality rates.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie Odahowski, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the national incidence and prevalence of diabetes between 2021-2023 using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Presents data on diabetes-related mortality between 2018-2023 from the CDC WONDER platform. Compares the incidence, prevalence, and mortality data across large metro, small metro, and non-metro counties. Highlights areas of the country with significantly higher and lower diabetes-related mortality rates.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie Odahowski, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Specialty Care for Veterans with the Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions: Fibromyalgia, Migraine, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
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Barriers to Implementing a Pharmacist-Led COPD CARE Bundle in Rural Settings: A Qualitative Evaluation
Examines barriers to implementing the COPD Coordinated Access to Reduce Exacerbations (COPD CARE) program, a care bundle focused on improving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care coordination among pharmacists, nurse care managers, and other pharmacy clinicians in the Veterans Affairs system. Describes themes from clinician interviews, including discussion of staffing challenges, limited referral availability, fragmentation of care, technological limitations, and more.
Author(s): Edward Christopher Portillo, Martha Maurer, Steven Do, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 13, e003178
Date: 03/2026
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Examines barriers to implementing the COPD Coordinated Access to Reduce Exacerbations (COPD CARE) program, a care bundle focused on improving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care coordination among pharmacists, nurse care managers, and other pharmacy clinicians in the Veterans Affairs system. Describes themes from clinician interviews, including discussion of staffing challenges, limited referral availability, fragmentation of care, technological limitations, and more.
Author(s): Edward Christopher Portillo, Martha Maurer, Steven Do, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 13, e003178
Date: 03/2026
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Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors by Rural and Urban Primary Care Practices
Results of a study comparing management of cardiovascular disease risk factors between rural and urban practices, using data from a national primary care registry from 2016-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural areas.
Author(s): Lars E. Peterson, Zachary J. Morgan
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Results of a study comparing management of cardiovascular disease risk factors between rural and urban practices, using data from a national primary care registry from 2016-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural areas.
Author(s): Lars E. Peterson, Zachary J. Morgan
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Rural-Urban Differences in Homebound Status by Health and Functional Limitations
Results of a study describing how rates of being homebound differ between rural and urban older adults by specific health indicators. Features statistics with breakdowns by chronic condition and rural or urban residence.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Dionne Bailey, Megan Lahr, Katie Rydberg
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Results of a study describing how rates of being homebound differ between rural and urban older adults by specific health indicators. Features statistics with breakdowns by chronic condition and rural or urban residence.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Dionne Bailey, Megan Lahr, Katie Rydberg
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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