November 17 marks Rural Health Day! Rural health is of particular importance to our community as COPD disproportionately affects rural communities.
Did you know:
- People living in rural or small metropolitan areas nationwide have a more
than 20% increased risk for COPD than people living in larger, nonrural
metro regions (Raju S, et al. Abstract 63441. Presented at: American Thoracic Society International Conference; May 15-20, 2015; Denver.
)
- Overall COPD prevalence was 7.2% nationwide, but it
increased to 11.9% for participants living in
rural-poor areas. Living in a rural or small metropolitan area resulted
in the highest increased risk for COPD
, as did living in the South. (Raju S, et al. Abstract 63441. Presented at: American Thoracic Society International Conference; May 15-20, 2015; Denver.)
- Regional fuel use in the South and Midwest also were associated with
more than ninefold and fivefold increased risks, respectively, for COPD. (Raju S, et al. Abstract 63441. Presented at: American Thoracic Society International Conference; May 15-20, 2015; Denver.)
- Geographic isolation shows higher risk for chronic obstructive
pulmonary-disease related mortality (www.ruralhealth.va.gov/docs/issue-briefs/geographic-isolation-110512.pdf)
Why do you think this might be the case? How do you think we can address this as a community?