Chronic Disease in Rural America – Resources

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
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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
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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The Role of Comorbidities, Medications, and Social Determinants of Health in Understanding Urban-Rural Outcome Differences among Patients with Heart Failure
Analyzes health outcomes for patients with heart failure and mitigating factors such as comorbidities, guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), and social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural versus urban areas. Utilizes data from Medicare beneficiaries who had a heart failure hospitalization between 2008 to 2017 to observe mortality rates within 30 days or 1 year, hospital readmission rates, and emergency room (ER) admissions. Discusses health outcome disparities that correlate to patient location.
Author(s): Emily P. Zeitler, Joanna Joly, Christopher G. Leggett, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 386-393
Date: 2024
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2024 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
Provides an overview of Alzheimer's disease in the United States, including prevalence, mortality and morbidity, and issues related to caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's. Includes discussions about challenges of the disease for patients, providers, and caregivers in rural areas.
Author(s): Joseph Gaugler, Bryan James, Tricia Johnson, et al.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Alzheimer's Association
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Trends in the Prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years — United States, 2011–2021
Reports on trends and differences in self-reported physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among U.S. adults 18 years of age and older. Includes data for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas. Includes discussion of COPD-related needs and challenges in rural areas.
Author(s): Yong Liu, Susan A. Carlson, Kathleen B. Watson, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 72(46), 1250-1256
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Racial Disparities in Obesity‐Related Cardiovascular Mortality in the United States: Temporal Trends From 1999 to 2020
Examines disparities in obesity-related cardiovascular mortality in U.S. citizens from 1999 to 2020. Utilizes the Multiple Cause of Death database to analyze mortality trends by race, sex, age, and rural versus urban residence.
Author(s): Zahra Raisi‐Estabragh, Ofer Kobo, Jennifer H. Mieres, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 12(18)
Date: 09/2023
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Socioeconomic and Environmental Determinants of Asthma Prevalence: A Cross-sectional Study at the U.S. County Level Using Geographically Weighted Random Forests
Examines ecological associations of asthma by social and physical determinants at the county level. Includes U.S. maps that depict asthma prevalence as well as determinants such as smoking prevalence, depression prevalence, poverty, insurance rates, and more, which are further analyzed to depict their correlation with asthma.
Author(s): Aynaz Lotfata, Mohammad Moosazadeh, Marco Helbich, Benyamin Hoseini
Citation: International Journal of Health Geographics, 22, 18
Date: 08/2023
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Sociodemographic and Geographic Risk Factors for All-Cause Mortality in Patients with COPD
Analyzes factors related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality while considering both individual characteristics and community risk factors. Examines 2021 COPD patient data according to sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidities, area deprivation index, and location by highly rural, rural, and urban.
Author(s): C Robichaux, J Aron, CH Wendt, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 18, 1587-1593
Date: 07/2023
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Care Access and Utilization among Medicare Beneficiaries Living with Parkinson's Disease
Analyzes healthcare utilization by 685,116 Medicare patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in 2019. Data is broken down by a variety of demographics and rurality. Discusses health disparities, mental health, and distribution of neurologists between rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Caroline Pearson, Alex Hartzman, Dianne Munevar, et al.
Citation: npj Parkinson's Disease, 9, 108
Date: 07/2023
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'A Safe Place': Rural HIV Patients and Providers Fight Stigma, Isolation Through Connection
Reports on a variety of programs underway in rural areas for HIV prevention and treatment. Discusses the challenges and barriers, as well as strategies to address HIV in rural communities.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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