A study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reveals that adults in rural communities face higher rates of heart disease and worse cardiovascular health compared to those in urban areas. Research indicates that socioeconomic factors like poverty and education levels may contribute to these disparities.
The study, utilizing data from over 27,000 adults in the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, indicates that rural residents are likelier to suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. Differences in the prevalence of high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes were most pronounced among adults aged 20-39.
The research highlights key socioeconomic factors as explanations for this disparity. Income, education, food security, and home ownership were significant predictors of higher rates of heart disease and related conditions in rural areas. The study also notes that lifestyle factors such as smoking and physical inactivity do not fully account for these differences, despite being more common in rural populations.
Sean Coady, M.A., Deputy Chief of the Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at NHLBI, is noted among the study's contributors, with the findings published in JAMA Cardiology.
The study emphasizes the importance of understanding these factors to inform public health strategies aimed at improving cardiovascular health in rural America.
Breaking down the specifics, rates of severe heart disease indicators were highest in the rural South, while obesity was notably prevalent across rural regions nationwide, particularly in the Northeast.
This area of research remains vital due to the substantial number of Americans—over 60 million—living in rural communities and the ongoing battle against heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.
The study was supported by an NHLBI grant and aims to guide future public health initiatives to address the health challenges faced by individuals in rural areas.
