Rural-Urban Differences Seen in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, CVD
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, April 8, 2025 -- There are substantial rural-urban disparities in cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiovascular diseases among U.S. adults, according to a study published online March 31 in JAMA Cardiology.
Michael Liu, from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues assessed differences in the burden of cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiovascular diseases between rural and urban areas of the United States, as well as contributing factors (e.g., health care access, lifestyle factors, and social risk factors). The analysis included 27,172 adults (aged 20 years and older) participating in the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
The researchers found that compared with their urban counterparts, rural adults were more likely to smoke, be insufficiently physically active, and have more social risk factors. In rural areas, age-standardized rates of cardiometabolic risk factors were significantly higher, including hypertension (37.1 versus 30.9 percent), hyperlipidemia (29.3 versus 26.7 percent), obesity (41.1 versus 30.0 percent), and diabetes (11.2 versus 9.8 percent). A similar pattern was seen for coronary heart disease (6.7 versus 4.3 percent) but not stroke. The greatest rural-urban disparities were seen among young adults (aged 20 to 39 years) for hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Rural-urban disparities in cardiovascular health remained after adjusting for measures of health care access and lifestyle factors. Rural-urban disparities in hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease were completely attenuated when accounting for social risk factors (poverty, education level, food insecurity, and home ownership).
"These findings suggest that efforts to improve socioeconomic conditions in rural communities may be critical to address the rural-urban gap in cardiovascular health," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to relevant organizations.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted April 2025
Read this next
Body Fat Percentage Better Predictor of 15-Year Mortality Than BMI
TUESDAY, July 1, 2025 -- For young adults, body fat percentage is a better predictor of 15-year mortality risk than body mass index (BMI), according to a study published online...
Degree of Weight Loss Affects Tirzepatide-Linked Cardiometabolic Risk Improvement
TUESDAY, July 1, 2025 -- For adults with obesity or overweight, tirzepatide-linked improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors are associated with the degree of weight reduction...
32 Percent of U.S. Adults Consumed Fast Food on a Given Day in 2021 to 2023
FRIDAY, June 27, 2025 -- Over 30 percent of adults and children consumed fast food on a given day during August 2021 to August 2023, according to two reports from the National...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.