Chronic diseases and conditions
Research Products & Journal Articles
Browse the full list of research publications on this topic completed by the Rural Health Research Centers.
Products – Freely accessible products include policy briefs, fact sheets, full reports, chartbooks, and interactive data websites.
Journal Articles – Articles in peer-reviewed journals may require a subscription or affiliation with a subscribing library. For these publications, Gateway lists the article citation, a brief summary, a link to additional information and access to the full-text of the article, if available.
2024
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Geographic Disparities in Availability of Hospital-Based Cardiac Services Across the United States
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2024
This project examined geographic disparities in the availability of essential cardiac care in counties across the United States. -
Availability and Quality of Dialysis Care in Rural Versus Urban U.S. Counties
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2024
An examination of rural-urban differences in quality of dialysis care offered across the United States was conducted using data from Medicare certified dialysis facilities in 2020 from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare.
2022
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Estimating Mortality From Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Pneumoconiosis Using Binary Regressions for Spatially Sparse Data
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 02/2022
This study estimates mortality from coal workers' pneumoconiosis and other pneumoconioses among Medicare beneficiaries using the 5% Medicare Limited Claims Data Set, 2011-2014.
2021
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Geographic Access to Health Care for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries: A National Study
Policy Brief
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 09/2021
Using national data from 2014, this policy brief describes geographic variation in the mix of providers caring for rural versus urban Medicare beneficiaries, the quantity of visits received by beneficiaries across Census Divisions and types of rural areas, and the distance traveled for care for several serious conditions. -
Voices From the Field: A Qualitative Study of the Challenges and Promising Practices of Rural Public Health in Addressing HIV and Hepatitis C
Journal Article
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2021
Interviewing public health professionals from six rural states, researchers examined the challenges involving HIV, HCV, and serving rural people who inject drugs and determined strategies to address those challenges. -
Availability of Supplemental Benefits in Medicare Advantage Plans in Rural and Urban Areas
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 02/2021
This brief identifies differences in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that include supplemental benefits available to rural and urban enrollees. By better understanding the variation in MA plan offerings across the country, policymakers can take appropriate action to improve the value of plans available in rural regions. -
Capacity of Rural Counties to Address an HIV or Hepatitis C Outbreak
Policy Brief
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2021
This study examines rural-urban differences in state and local health department capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to an HIV or hepatitis C outbreak. -
Rural HIV Prevalence and Service Availability in the United States: A Chartbook
Chartbook
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2021
This chartbook examines 2016 HIV prevalence and the availability of HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services across the rural-urban continuum and by U.S. census region. -
Rural-Urban Residence and Maternal Hepatitis C Infection, U.S.: 2010-2018
Journal Article
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2021
This study uses data from the U.S. natality files to examine rural-urban differences in county-level rates of maternal infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) during 2010-2018. Findings can help inform implementation of community-level interventions to reduce maternal HCV infection and narrow rural-urban disparities.
2020
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Mortality Among Workers Employed in the Mining Industry in the United States: A 29‐Year Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey—Linked Mortality File, 1986‐2014
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 07/2020
Working in the mining industry increases the risk of chronic diseases and mortality. We investigated overall and cause‐specific mortality rates among workers employed in the mining sector in the U.S. -
Estimating the Prevalence and Spatial Clusters of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Cases Using Medicare Claims Data, 2011‐2014
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 03/2020
Workers in the coal mining sector are at increased risk of respiratory diseases, including coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). We investigated the prevalence of CWP and its association with sociodemographic factors among Medicare beneficiaries. We found evidence of significant spatial clustering of CWP in the states and population analyzed.
2019
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Congestive Heart Failure-Related Hospital Deaths Across the Urban-Rural Continuum in the United States
Journal Article
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2019
This study examines congestive heart failure (CHF)-related, in-hospital mortality across six levels of rurality and four census regions. Results indicated CHF-related hospital admissions in small metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas, compared to large central metropolitan areas, were more likely to result in death. -
Healthy People 2020: Rural Areas Lag in Achieving Targets for Major Causes of Death
Journal Article
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2019
For the period 2007-2017 rural death rates were higher than urban rates for the seven major causes of death analyzed, and disparities widened for five of the seven. In 2017 urban areas had met national targets for three of the seven causes, while rural areas had met none of the targets. -
The Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Among Current and Ex-Miners in the United States
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 12/2019
This paper compares the prevalence and odds of chronic diseases among ex-miners and current miners, adjusting for certain variables that might influence health outcomes. The analysis found that the prevalence of chronic disease is significantly higher among ex-miners. -
Comparing Rural and Urban Medicare Advantage Beneficiary Characteristics
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 03/2019
This brief reports few rural and urban differences in observed demographic characteristics among enrollees in the Medicare Advantage program. Issuers often exclude rural counties from their service areas, but we find no evidence that this is due to such demographics, suggesting that other reasons relating to population size may be more likely. -
The Changing Landscape of Diabetes Mortality in the United States Across Region and Rurality, 1999-2016
Journal Article
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2019
This brief report examines place-based differences in diabetes mortality to understand whether disparities in diabetes mortality have changed across U.S. Census regions and levels of rurality over time. Reductions in diabetes mortality are lagging in rural areas, and the rural South in particular, relative to other areas of the country. -
Diabetes-Related Hospital Mortality in the U.S.: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Study of the National Inpatient Sample
Journal Article
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2019
This study examined place-based and individual-level variations in diabetes-related hospital deaths using the 2009-2015 National Inpatient Sample. Results show that place-based disparities exist. Targeted focus should be placed on the control of diabetic complications in the South, West, and Midwest census regions and among rural residents.
2017
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Barriers Rural Physicians Face Prescribing Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder
Journal Article
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 07/2017
Opioid use disorder is a serious public health problem. Management with buprenorphine is an effective medication-assisted treatment, but 60.1% of rural counties lack a physician with a Drug Enforcement Agency waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. This national study surveyed all rural physicians who have received a waiver in the United States.
2016
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Geographic Disparities in Mortality Among the End Stage Renal Disease Patients: An Analysis of the United States Renal Data System, 2007-08.
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2016
Explores the association between morality, rurality, and distance from the treatment facility of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Rural patients were found to have a mortality advantage. -
Access to Rural Home Health Services: Views From the Field
Report
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2016
Access to home health care can be challenging for rural Medicare clients. Key informants for this study detailed obstacles, including financial, regulatory, workforce, and geographic issues. Rural communities will likely benefit from payment reforms that reward quality services while providing incentives to use best practices in home health care.
2015
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Thirty-Day Readmission Rates Among Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Date: 08/2015
Examines readmission rates and factors affecting readmission of patients eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligibility).
2014
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Heart Disease
Policy Brief
North Dakota and NORC Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
Date: 10/2014
The Department of Health and Human Services' report Health, United States, 2001: With Urban and Rural Health Chartbook illustrated trends and highlighted priorities in urban/rural health. The Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center replicated the analyses using the most recent data available. This brief highlights key heart disease findings. -
Implications of Rurality and Psychiatric Status for Diabetic Preventive Care Use Among Adults With Diabetes
Policy Brief
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2014
This brief examines patterns of diabetic preventive care use among adults with diabetes to determine whether these patterns vary according to respondents' rural/urban residence or the presence/absence of a mental health diagnosis. -
Do Rural Patients With Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Gain Access to All Treatment Choices? (Final Report)
Report
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2014
This report compares rates of receipt of prostate cancer treatments and of the treatment options between early-stage prostate cancer patients living in urban and four levels of rural counties.
2013
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Rural Population Estimates: An Analysis of a Large Secondary Data Set
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Date: 2013
Examines in the underrepresentation of rural counties in large secondary data sources, specifically the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
2012
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Childhood Asthma in Rural-Urban Areas
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2012
This policy brief examines how asthma may be related to rural areas adjacent or non-adjacent to larger population centers, to variation in measures of air quality, to varying levels of agricultural and animal production, and to other characteristics such as obesity, race/ethnicity, or health insurance. -
Childhood Asthma in Rural-Urban Areas (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2012
This report examines how asthma may be related to rural areas adjacent or non-adjacent to larger population centers, to variation in measures of air quality, to varying levels of agricultural and animal production, and to other characteristics such as obesity, race/ethnicity, or health insurance. -
Lower Rehospitalization Rates Among Rural Medicare Beneficiaries With Diabetes
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Date: 2012
Evaluates 30-day readmission rates of Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes in rural areas.
2008
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Financing Rural Public Health Activities in Prevention and Health Promotion (Final Report)
NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Date: 06/2008
This is the final report of a study to determine whether the flow of federal resources, from federal agencies, through states, and to communities, is influenced by state- and local-level public health infrastructure. -
Rural Public Health Financing: The Relationship Between Infrastructure and Local Program Funding
Policy Brief
NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Date: 06/2008
This study's purpose was to describe how federal funds for selected chronic disease prevention and health promotion activities are distributed to local health departments and non-governmental organizations at the local level and to identify infrastructure-related barriers that rural agencies may face in securing and using funds for such purposes.
2007
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National Rural Hospital Charges Due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 12/2007
This policy brief documents the national magnitude of charges associated with hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions in rural hospitals. -
Regional Variation in Rural Hospital Charges Due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 12/2007
This policy brief estimates and documents the regional magnitude of charges associated with hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions in rural hospitals. -
Ambulatory Care Sensitive Condition Hospitalizations Among Rural Children (Brief)
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2007
This brief reports results from a study examining children's inpatient hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions, rural residence, poverty, health insurance, and physician supply. Admission rates were examined for asthma, diabetes short-term complications, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, and perforated appendix. -
A National Study of Lifetime Asthma Prevalence and Trends in Metro and Non-Metro Counties, 2000-2003 (Full Report)
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2007
This paper reports the findings of a study regarding the prevalence of and recent trends in asthma among adults residing in metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties in the United States. -
A National Study of Lifetime Asthma Prevalence and Trends in Metro and Non-Metro Counties, 2000-2003 (Project Summary)
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2007
This summary provides a brief overview of the findings from a study of the prevalence of and recent trends in asthma among adults residing in metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties in the United States.
2006
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Elements of Successful Rural Diabetes Management Programs
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 07/2006
This report shares findings from a study about local innovations implemented by rural chronic disease management programs. Using diabetes as a proxy for all chronic diseases, the authors explored how local innovations overcame challenges of the rural setting to provide effective and efficient disease management. -
Chronic Disease Management Systems (Registries) in Rural Health Care
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 05/2006
A Chronic Disease Management System (CDMS) is a tool that helps providers collect and analyze patient information to promote quality care. This study shows that CDMSs are readily available to rural clinics and are being implemented and maintained by clinic staff with minimal expenditures for technology.
2005
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Rural Diabetes Care Management Programs: An Inventory of Sample Programs in Six States
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 12/2005
This report was developed to share key contact and program information with organizations that are interested in starting a chronic disease management program in their facility. -
Barriers Associated With the Delivery of Medicare Reimbursed Diabetes Self-Management Education
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2005
Explores the barriers that practitioners face in providing diabetes self-management education to Medicare beneficiaries. Barriers identified for rural providers include costs, the shortage of designated specialists, fewer resources, amount of Medicare reimbursement, transportation and more. -
Chronic Disease and Functional Limitation Among American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
Journal Article
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 2005
Reports the results of an analysis of chronic disease's effect on functional limitation from a survey of 7,107 Native elders representing 143 tribes from 77 sites. -
Chronic Disease in American Indian/Alaska Native Elders
Journal Article
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 2005
This journal article describes the prevalence of chronic diseases among Native American elders. -
More May Be Better: Evidence of a Negative Relationship Between Physician Supply and Hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Date: 2005
The authors conducted an empirical test of the relationship between physician supply and hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.
2002
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Diabetes and the Rural Safety Net
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2002
This paper investigates the extent to which the rural safety net is able to meet the needs of people with diabetes.
2001
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Improving the Quality of Outpatient Care for Older Patients With Diabetes: Lessons From a Comparison of Rural and Urban Communities
Journal Article
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 08/2001
Compares the quality of diabetic care received by patients in rural and urban communities in Washington State. Concludes that large rural towns may provide the best conditions for high-quality care-growing communities that serve as regional referral centers and have an adequate, but not excessive, supply of generalist and specialist physicians.