National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research shows possible disparities in rural communities regarding heart health.
When compared to urban communities, more residents of rural communities were diagnosed with cardiovascular issues. According to a release, “Across all age groups, the differences in high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes were largest among adults ages 20–39 living in rural areas vs. cities.”
Key findings among adults living in rural areas vs. urban, according to the NIH:
· Heart disease: 7% vs. 4%
· High blood pressure: 37% vs. 31%
· High cholesterol: 29% vs. 27%
· Obesity: 41% vs. 30%
· Diabetes: 11% vs. 10%
The researchers attribute these numbers to social circumstances like education level, whether individuals owned their homes, income rates, etc. Notably, healthcare access “did not factor into these differences.”
