Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Chronic respiratory conditions
Health Concerns of Women in Agriculture in the Midwestern United States
Presents a study exploring the health and safety needs of women working as agricultural producers. Bases findings on a survey of 120 agricultural women in Nebraska. Explores concerns about zoonotic diseases, reproductive health concerns, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health challenges, among other issues common to agricultural work.
Author(s): Cheryl L. Beseler, Megan Lutt, Alex Egbuchiem, Ellen G. Duysen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31, 11-19
Date: 01/2026
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Presents a study exploring the health and safety needs of women working as agricultural producers. Bases findings on a survey of 120 agricultural women in Nebraska. Explores concerns about zoonotic diseases, reproductive health concerns, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health challenges, among other issues common to agricultural work.
Author(s): Cheryl L. Beseler, Megan Lutt, Alex Egbuchiem, Ellen G. Duysen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31, 11-19
Date: 01/2026
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Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis–Associated Deaths — United States, 2020–2023
Reports on deaths associated with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling coal mine dust. Includes data by industry and occupation, with most deaths occurring among those employed in the mining industry, a largely rural industry. Discusses the need for comprehensive prevention and screening.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(41), 627-633
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on deaths associated with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling coal mine dust. Includes data by industry and occupation, with most deaths occurring among those employed in the mining industry, a largely rural industry. Discusses the need for comprehensive prevention and screening.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(41), 627-633
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Geographic and Demographic Differences in Studies of the Five Leading Causes of Death in the U.S.: Evidence from Peer-Reviewed Literature
Literature review examining the extent to which studies on mortality related to heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke included individual measures of rurality, race, and ethnicity, and analyzes the findings of these studies. Discusses differences in research on a condition-by-condition basis and suggests directions for future health disparities research.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Timothy Callaghan, Gogoal Falia, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Literature review examining the extent to which studies on mortality related to heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke included individual measures of rurality, race, and ethnicity, and analyzes the findings of these studies. Discusses differences in research on a condition-by-condition basis and suggests directions for future health disparities research.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Timothy Callaghan, Gogoal Falia, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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How USPS Network Changes Threaten Prescription Drug Access for Vulnerable Populations
Discusses the impact of mail processing changes on mail-order medication and asthma and diabetes management for rural communities. Highlights the "triple burden" of limited pharmacy access, high use of mail-order prescriptions, and proximity to postal service restructuring. Includes rural and urban comparisons, Medicare data, and county-level analysis.
Author(s): Elena Patel, Joshua Feng, Matthew Higgins
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Discusses the impact of mail processing changes on mail-order medication and asthma and diabetes management for rural communities. Highlights the "triple burden" of limited pharmacy access, high use of mail-order prescriptions, and proximity to postal service restructuring. Includes rural and urban comparisons, Medicare data, and county-level analysis.
Author(s): Elena Patel, Joshua Feng, Matthew Higgins
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Chronic Health Conditions and Health Care Affordability Issues among U.S. Rural and Urban Adults
Analyzes associations between chronic health conditions and likelihood of experiencing healthcare affordability issues among rural and urban populations, utilizing 2022 National Health Interview Survey data. Examines rural and urban prevalence of individual chronic conditions, chronic condition multimorbidity, problems paying medical bills, and inability to pay medical bills.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Alexis Swendener, Hannah MacDougall, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Journal of Multimorbidity and Comorbidity, 15
Date: 11/2025
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Analyzes associations between chronic health conditions and likelihood of experiencing healthcare affordability issues among rural and urban populations, utilizing 2022 National Health Interview Survey data. Examines rural and urban prevalence of individual chronic conditions, chronic condition multimorbidity, problems paying medical bills, and inability to pay medical bills.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Alexis Swendener, Hannah MacDougall, Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: Journal of Multimorbidity and Comorbidity, 15
Date: 11/2025
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Fast Facts: Rates of Chronic Conditions Consistently Higher Among Adults in Rural Areas
Compares the prevalence of chronic health conditions and associated risk factors in rural and urban areas, utilizing 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Includes data on health conditions including obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and depression, among others. Includes state-by-state rural health data for select conditions.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: America's Health Rankings
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Compares the prevalence of chronic health conditions and associated risk factors in rural and urban areas, utilizing 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Includes data on health conditions including obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and depression, among others. Includes state-by-state rural health data for select conditions.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: America's Health Rankings
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Effectiveness of Nirsevimab among Infants in their First RSV Season in the United States, October 2023–March 2024: A Test-Negative Design Analysis
Analyzes the impact of the nirsevimab antibody for infants in their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season. Utilizes 2023-2024 electronic health record (EHR) data from 6 healthcare systems to examine RSV-associated emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization according to patient demographics, social determinants of health, health conditions, and location on the rural-urban continuum.
Author(s): Amanda B. Payne, Steph Battan-Wraith, Elizabeth A.K. Rowley, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 49, 101196
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes the impact of the nirsevimab antibody for infants in their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season. Utilizes 2023-2024 electronic health record (EHR) data from 6 healthcare systems to examine RSV-associated emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization according to patient demographics, social determinants of health, health conditions, and location on the rural-urban continuum.
Author(s): Amanda B. Payne, Steph Battan-Wraith, Elizabeth A.K. Rowley, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 49, 101196
Date: 09/2025
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Combined Prevalence of Chronic Conditions or Obesity for Adults in 2022
Examines the combined prevalence of obesity and chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes, among others, by demographic group, utilizing Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component data. See Figure 6 for a comparison of prevalence between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs.
Author(s): Zhengyi Fang, Rebecca Ahrnsbrak
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Examines the combined prevalence of obesity and chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes, among others, by demographic group, utilizing Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component data. See Figure 6 for a comparison of prevalence between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs.
Author(s): Zhengyi Fang, Rebecca Ahrnsbrak
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Adult Tobacco Use in Vermont
Data brief summarizing tobacco measures from the 2023 Vermont Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a phone survey of adult Vermonters. Features a county-level map showing smoking rates, and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Data brief summarizing tobacco measures from the 2023 Vermont Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a phone survey of adult Vermonters. Features a county-level map showing smoking rates, and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Gaps in Access to Pulmonary Hypertension Care and Opportunities for Improvement: A Multi-Site Qualitative Study
Discusses access barriers to pulmonary hypertension (PH) specialty care in the United States. Utilizes qualitative feedback from staff and patients at 3 PH healthcare centers and discusses issues such as lack of expertise, lack of insurance coverage, and geographic barriers to care, including in rural areas.
Author(s): Kari R. Gillmeyer, Sara Shusterman, Seppo T. Rinne, A. Rani Elwy, Renda Soylemez Wiener
Citation: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 25, 355
Date: 07/2025
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Discusses access barriers to pulmonary hypertension (PH) specialty care in the United States. Utilizes qualitative feedback from staff and patients at 3 PH healthcare centers and discusses issues such as lack of expertise, lack of insurance coverage, and geographic barriers to care, including in rural areas.
Author(s): Kari R. Gillmeyer, Sara Shusterman, Seppo T. Rinne, A. Rani Elwy, Renda Soylemez Wiener
Citation: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 25, 355
Date: 07/2025
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