Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions
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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Drug Overdose Deaths in Kentucky, 2019–2024: Are We Back to Pre-COVID-19 Levels?
Examines drug overdose deaths in Kentucky and the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates. Utilizes 2019-2024 Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics data to analyze overdose mortality rates according to year, demographics, contributing drugs, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Juan Lang, Carmen Canedo, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 51
Date: 08/2025
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Examines drug overdose deaths in Kentucky and the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates. Utilizes 2019-2024 Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics data to analyze overdose mortality rates according to year, demographics, contributing drugs, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Juan Lang, Carmen Canedo, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 51
Date: 08/2025
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Improving Access to Specialty Care for Rural Children Using Enhanced Hearing Screening and Specialty Telehealth Follow-Up in Rural Kentucky Schools: Protocol for a Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Stepped Wedge, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial (Appalachian STAR Trial)
A study protocol for the Appalachian Specialty Telemedicine Access for Referrals (STAR) trial which aims to improve access to specialty hearing care for children living in rural Kentucky. Focuses on school hearing screenings of kindergartners and follow-up referrals to specialty care.
Author(s): Tarika Srinivasan, Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Elizabeth Turner, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 08/2025
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A study protocol for the Appalachian Specialty Telemedicine Access for Referrals (STAR) trial which aims to improve access to specialty hearing care for children living in rural Kentucky. Focuses on school hearing screenings of kindergartners and follow-up referrals to specialty care.
Author(s): Tarika Srinivasan, Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Elizabeth Turner, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 08/2025
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Evaluating the Impact of Altitudinal Variations on COVID-19 Mortality Rates: A Comprehensive Analysis
Examines the effects of high altitude on county-level COVID-19 mortality, fatality rates, and vaccination outcomes, utilizing January 2020-August 2022 New York Times COVID-19 repository and American Community Survey data. Includes data on fatality by level of rurality in the pre- and post-vaccination periods.
Author(s): Emre Karsli, Damla Anbarli Metin, Arda Kocatas, et al.
Citation: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 25, 413
Date: 08/2025
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Examines the effects of high altitude on county-level COVID-19 mortality, fatality rates, and vaccination outcomes, utilizing January 2020-August 2022 New York Times COVID-19 repository and American Community Survey data. Includes data on fatality by level of rurality in the pre- and post-vaccination periods.
Author(s): Emre Karsli, Damla Anbarli Metin, Arda Kocatas, et al.
Citation: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 25, 413
Date: 08/2025
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Community Navigation Intervention for Social Needs in Patients With Abnormal Mammography: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study Protocol
Presents a study exploring the efficacy of community navigators, such as 211, to help alleviate unmet social needs and change the likelihood of cancer patients with unmet social needs to complete their follow-up care. Discusses the importance of follow-up care in the treatment and prevention of cancer and the barriers individuals with unmet social needs face to receive it. Explores rurality as a potential barrier.
Author(s): Kirstin Beck, Mackenzie Mitchell, Andrea S. Wallace, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2926
Date: 08/2025
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Presents a study exploring the efficacy of community navigators, such as 211, to help alleviate unmet social needs and change the likelihood of cancer patients with unmet social needs to complete their follow-up care. Discusses the importance of follow-up care in the treatment and prevention of cancer and the barriers individuals with unmet social needs face to receive it. Explores rurality as a potential barrier.
Author(s): Kirstin Beck, Mackenzie Mitchell, Andrea S. Wallace, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2926
Date: 08/2025
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The Power of Prevention: "HPV Doesn't Wait – Why Should You?"
Discusses the Nebraska Cancer Coalition's "HPV Doesn't Wait - Why Should You?" public awareness campaign, which focuses on educating healthcare providers and community members throughout Nebraska on the value of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Details disparities in adolescent HPV vaccination rates in rural Nebraska and highlights the importance of rural outreach.
Author(s): Laura Schabloske, Tamara Robinson
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Discusses the Nebraska Cancer Coalition's "HPV Doesn't Wait - Why Should You?" public awareness campaign, which focuses on educating healthcare providers and community members throughout Nebraska on the value of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Details disparities in adolescent HPV vaccination rates in rural Nebraska and highlights the importance of rural outreach.
Author(s): Laura Schabloske, Tamara Robinson
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Depressive Symptoms Among Rural Americans
Analyzes characteristics of individuals with depression in rural areas. Utilizes 2024 National Health Interview Survey data and examines metro versus nonmetro demographic profile of individuals with depression as well as their health-related behaviors, physical limitations, and functional impairments.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Analyzes characteristics of individuals with depression in rural areas. Utilizes 2024 National Health Interview Survey data and examines metro versus nonmetro demographic profile of individuals with depression as well as their health-related behaviors, physical limitations, and functional impairments.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Hospital Health Information Exchange Participation and Heart Failure Discharges to Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Cohort Study
Examines the correlation of health information exchange (HIE) participation and admission to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) following a heart failure (HF) hospital discharge. Utilizes 2018 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPar) file data to analyze 385,895 HF discharges according to SNF admission and HIE participation. Includes breakdowns by patient demographics, urban/rural status, hospital ownership, hospital type and bed size, length of stay, and more.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Camille P. Vaughan, Mohammed K. Ali, Steven D. Culler
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 1079
Date: 08/2025
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Examines the correlation of health information exchange (HIE) participation and admission to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) following a heart failure (HF) hospital discharge. Utilizes 2018 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPar) file data to analyze 385,895 HF discharges according to SNF admission and HIE participation. Includes breakdowns by patient demographics, urban/rural status, hospital ownership, hospital type and bed size, length of stay, and more.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Camille P. Vaughan, Mohammed K. Ali, Steven D. Culler
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 1079
Date: 08/2025
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Geographic Disparities in Access to Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation in Texas
Examines rural-urban disparities in access to and use of outpatient stroke rehabilitation services in Texas, utilizing 2016-2019 Medicare claims data in addition to a survey of Texas clinics.
Author(s): Joseph Wozny, Melissa Howard, Susan Doherty, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(8), e0328267.
Date: 08/2025
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Examines rural-urban disparities in access to and use of outpatient stroke rehabilitation services in Texas, utilizing 2016-2019 Medicare claims data in addition to a survey of Texas clinics.
Author(s): Joseph Wozny, Melissa Howard, Susan Doherty, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(8), e0328267.
Date: 08/2025
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Rural and Urban Differences in Prostate Cancer Recurrence
Examines rates of prostate cancer recurrence among 778 rural and urban men, utilizing data from the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness Survivor Study. Analyzes the association of rurality and other demographic and clinical factors with recurrence.
Author(s): Julia B. Balmaceda, Aaron J. Katz, Katelyn Kane, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2526912
Date: 08/2025
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Examines rates of prostate cancer recurrence among 778 rural and urban men, utilizing data from the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness Survivor Study. Analyzes the association of rurality and other demographic and clinical factors with recurrence.
Author(s): Julia B. Balmaceda, Aaron J. Katz, Katelyn Kane, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2526912
Date: 08/2025
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