Chronic Disease in Rural America – Resources

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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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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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, C.H. 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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Diabetes Prevalence and Monitoring in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas Within a Commercially Insured U.S. Population
Explores the prevalence of diabetes in metro and nonmetro areas. Draws data from commercial insurance enrollees and compares rates of diabetes testing and outcomes by rurality.
Author(s): Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Disparities in Diabetes Care: Differences Between Rural and Urban Patients Within a Large Health System
Examines rural versus urban residence and the related impact on a patient's quality of diabetes care. Analyzes 2019 data of 45,279 patients with diabetes in a large healthcare system, comparing rural versus urban outcomes of 5 diabetes care metrics. Discusses health disparities in diabetes care based on geography.
Author(s): Randy Foss, Karen Fischer, Michelle A. Lampman, et al.
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 21(3), 234-239
Date: 05/2023
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Adult Asthma Prevalence and Trend Analysis by Urban–Rural Status Across Sociodemographic Characteristics—United States, 2012-20
Examines 2020 asthma prevalence and 2012-2020 annual asthma trends by large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, small metro, micropolitan, and noncore location. Utilizes Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to analyze geographic distribution of asthma conditions, which is further broken down by sex, age, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, insurance status, and income.
Author(s): Xiaoting Qin, Cynthia A. Pate, Hatice S. Zahran
Citation: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global, 2(2), 100085
Date: 05/2023
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The Black Lung Program, the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, and the Excise Tax on Coal: Background and Policy Options
Information on black lung disease and benefits under the federal black lung program. Examines Black Lung Disability Trust Fund revenues, including coal excise tax, and discusses policy options that could improve the fiscal outlook of the Trust Fund. Features statistics including black lung benefit costs, number of beneficiaries, coal excise tax collections, and Trust Fund debt, with breakdowns by year.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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