How Geography Influences Heart Disease Risk

Many people assume that living in rural areas, with open spaces and less pollution, leads to better health, the Daily Mail reports.

However, recent research suggests that residing in rural America may increase the likelihood of developing heart disease and diabetes. A study conducted by researchers from Massachusetts and Missouri examined the health risks associated with living in rural versus urban environments, revealing significant disparities in cardiovascular health.

The study, published in JAMA Cardiology, analyzed data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, which included responses from 27,200 adults over the age of 20. Of the respondents, 14% lived in rural areas, 55% in small or medium metro areas, and 31% in urban settings. The research focused on six cardiac risk factors: high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and hyperlipidemia (high levels of fats in the blood).

The results showed that rural Americans had an increased risk for five of the six conditions—stroke being the only exception:

• 19% higher risk of high blood pressure
• 27% higher risk of obesity
• 12.5% higher risk of diabetes
• 36% higher risk of heart disease
• 9% higher risk of hyperlipidemia

Researchers found that socioeconomic factors were major drivers of these health disparities. The study identified poverty, education level, food insecurity, and homeownership as key determinants of cardiovascular health. Adults living in rural areas were more likely to have lower incomes, less education, experience food insecurity, and engage in fewer healthy behaviors, such as regular exercise and non-smoking habits.

Access to healthcare, while often cited as a concern for rural communities, was not found to be a significant factor in the disparities observed in this study. Instead, lifestyle and socioeconomic conditions played a more prominent role in influencing heart disease risk.

The study also highlighted geographical variations in health risks:

• Rural residents in the South had the highest risk for high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and stroke.
• Rural residents in the Northeast had the highest rates of heart disease and obesity.
• Young adults (ages 20-39) in rural areas showed the largest gap in cardiovascular health compared to their urban peers.

These findings are particularly concerning given that cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of death in the US The study underscores the need for targeted public health initiatives to improve socioeconomic conditions in rural areas and promote healthier lifestyles.