Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Chronic Disease in Rural America – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Chronic Disease in Rural America.

The Báa nnilah Program: Results of a Chronic-Illness Self-Management Cluster Randomized Trial with the Apsáalooke Nation
Presents a study on the efficacy of a chronic illness self-management program for Apsáalooke tribe in Montana. Breaks down data by demographic information, such as education, income, and marital status, among other measures, and number and type of illnesses managed.
Author(s): Suzanne Held, Du Feng, Alma McCormick, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(3), 285
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
view details
Arthritis in Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2022
Report offering data on arthritis prevalence in U.S. adults from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey. Discusses prevalence by various demographics in addition to region and urbanization.
Author(s): Nazik Elgaddal, Ellen A. Kramarow, Julie D. Weeks, Cynthia Reuben
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details
Assessing the Acceptability and Feasibility of Remote Spirometric Monitoring for Rural Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease: A Multimethod Approach
Examines the acceptability and feasibility of utilizing telemonitoring for rural lung disease patients who have limited access to hospital-based tests. Analyzes home-based spirometry use of 20 rural patients and provides patient feedback on satisfaction of using telehealth to complete remote monitoring of lung disease.
Author(s): Ryan D. Boente, Sydney Schacht, Rebecca Borton, et al.
Citation: Respiratory Research, 25, 92
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
view details
How to Launch a Pulmonary Rehab Program
Highlights the benefits to hospitals and their community of operating rural pulmonary rehab programs, and shares practical advice and tips on how Critical Access Hospitals and small rural hospitals can successfully build and sustain their own pulmonary rehab programs. Features Sparta Community Hospital in Illinois and Hood Memorial Hospital in Louisiana, which opened pulmonary rehab programs in 2023. Transcript available below description.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
view details
Understanding COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Provides an overview of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms and causes, and explains how rural-based pulmonary rehabilitation services help to restore independence and quality of life in COPD patients. Highlights the prevalence of COPD in rural communities and the steps that Critical Access Hospitals and other small rural hospitals can take to improve access to much-needed pulmonary rehabilitation services. Includes transcript.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
view details
Rural Heart Health and Community Partnerships, with Jennifer Conner, Jessica Black, and Dianne Connery
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring the American Heart Association's Jennifer Conner and Jessica Black, along with Dianne Connery, Director of the Pottsboro Texas Area Public Library. Focuses on rural heart health, the impact of several recent AHA national initiatives, and the value of local and regional health partnerships.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Produce Prescription Programs Offer 'A Holistic Approach' to Addressing Rural Food Insecurity and Diet-Related Disease
Features produce prescription programs serving rural Mississippi, New Mexico, and Vermont that are helping improve access to healthy foods for those with diet-related chronic conditions. Describes how produce Rx programs can support local food systems and discusses funding and sustainability considerations.
Author(s): Brendan Stermer
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years with Diagnosed Diabetes, by Urbanization Level and Age Group — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2022
Bar chart showing the total, metropolitan, and nonmetro percent of adults with diagnosed diabetes for those aged 18-34, 35-49, 50-64, and 65 and older.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(2), 49
Date: 01/2024
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Telemedicine Use and Decrements to Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension quality of care as associated with telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pre-pandemic (March 13, 2019 to December 31, 2019) and pandemic (March 13, 2020 to December 31, 2020) periods. Examines variables such as HbA1c monitoring and control, blood pressure monitoring and control, and telemedicine use. Presents data according to patient demographic information including age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, insurance type, health conditions, and metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural residence.
Author(s): Hector P. Rodriguez, Elizabeth Ciemins, Karl Rubio, et al.
Citation: BMC Digital Health, 2, 2
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
view details
Modeling Early Detection and Geographic Variation in Health System Capacity for Alzheimer's Disease–Modifying Therapies
Examines the impact of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to slow the progression of early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the availability of DMTs across the U.S. Discusses wait times for DMTs in rural versus urban areas and provides U.S. maps showing demographic and healthcare workforce supply data by county.
Author(s): Jodi L. Liu, Lawrence Baker, Annie Chen, Jessie Wang, Federico Girosi
Date: 2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details

Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:


Last Updated: 2/6/2025