Your zip code could determine if you develop a deadly heart condition… what’s the risk where you live?
Living in rural America may be increasing your chances of developing heart disease and diabetes.
Despite many believing living in open spaces with less pollution is better for a person’s health, a new study has revealed that may not be true.
Researchers from Massachusetts and Missouri measured the risk rural residents had compared to urban residents for six different cardiac risk factors, including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and hyperlipidemia – high levels of fats in the blood.
Overall, rural Americans had an increased risk of developing five of the six conditions – no increased risk was observed for stroke – including a 19 percent higher risk of high blood pressure and a 27 percent higher risk of obesity.
Additionally, results showed a 12.5 percent higher risk of diabetes; a 36 percent higher risk of heart disease; and a nine percent higher risk of hyperlipidemia.
All of these conditions are major risk factors for multiple cardiovascular diseases that could be deadly.
The research team, which was funded by the NIH, found that poverty, education level, food insecurity and home ownership were the major factors driving the differences among both groups.
Living in rural America may be increasing your chances of developing heart disease and diabetes
According to the 2020 census, 265million Americans (80 percent) live in urban areas and 66million (20 percent) live in rural areas.
The latest study, published in JAMA Cardiology, analyzed data taken from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey of 27,200 adults over the age of 20.
Of the respondents, 4,250 (14 percent) lived in rural areas, 14,740 (55 percent) lived in small/medium metro areas and 8,175 (31 percent) lived in urban areas.
The participants were asked to fill out questionnaires that inquired about their health insurance coverage, how often they visit the doctor, lifestyle factors including smoking habits and physical activity.
They were also asked their household income, education level, food insecurity and whether they owned a home.
The responses were then evaluated to predict a person’s likelihood of developing hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, diabetes coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
Results showed people living in rural America had a 37 percent chance of developing hypertension and a 29 percent chance of developing hyperlipidemia.
They also had a 41 percent chance of being obese, a nearly seven percent chance of developing CHD and an 11 percent chance of having diabetes.
In contrast, city-dwellers only had a 31 percent likelihood of developing hypertension, 27 percent chance of hyperlipidemia, 30 percent chance of being obese, a four percent chance of having CHD and 10 percent likelihood of being diabetic.
No differences were observed for stroke prevalence or risk.
The only group that saw urbanites and suburbanites have an increased risk over rural Americans was 20- to 39-year-olds for hyperlipidemia.
People who live in rural areas in the south are at the highest risk of four of the six indications measured – high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and stroke.
Rural Americans in the northeast, however, have the highest risk of heart disease and obesity.
The researchers wrote: ‘The finding that rural-urban cardiovascular health disparities were largest among young adults is alarming, particularly against the backdrop of rapidly worsening cardiovascular health in this population.’
Multiple studies have found there is a health discrepancy across the nation, with the southern region in particular experiencing poor health.
About 38million Americans have diabetes. According to the Rural Health Information Hub, rural areas are more likely to have higher percentages of people with diabetes and more rural regions of the US have people with diabetes than urban areas.
A similar trend is seen with obesity rates and heart disease death rates.
The left map shows the prevalence of diabetes in urban areas and the right map shows the prevalence of the disease in rural areas
The above shows the prevalence of high blood pressure among rural and urban Americans of different age groups
The above shows the prevalence of obesity among rural and urban Americans of different age groups (dark blue represents urban; medium blue represents suburban; and light blue represents rural)
Previous studies have concluded that inadequate access to healthcare, hospital and doctor offices closures and gaps in insurance coverage all contribute to subpar health.
Additionally, less physical activity, poor diet and higher smoking rates in southern states, as well as lower income and education attainment, all play a role in declining health.
And the latest study confirmed, adults residing in rural areas were older, actively smoking, not exercising, had lower incomes and levels of education and experienced food insecurity.
All of these factors can compound on one another, poor diet can lead to diabetes and obesity, which then raises the risk of high blood pressure and can cause heart disease.
However, in the latest study, having access to healthcare did not factor into the differences.
Based on their findings, the researchers wrote: ‘Concerted efforts to improve socioeconomic conditions across rural America may be critical for addressing the widening rural-urban gap in cardiovascular health.’
