Medical News Today recently published a piece by journalist Beth JoJack, “Why adults in rural areas face higher risk of heart failure,” In the article, findings from an observational study were discussed, including that those living in rural areas are nearly 20% more likely to develop heart failure. The higher risks were observed among several demographic groups, but especially among Black men and women in rural areas.
Center assistant professor Keisha Ray, PhD, commented that this was not a surprising finding as it is consistent with health disparities scholarship, indicating that discrimination, including sexism and racism, influences people’s lives. This carries true for their access to resources needed for maintaining proper heart health, like access to healthy foods, recreation, preventive care, and more.