American Heart Association: Health Disparities Among the Many Unique Challenges for People in Rural America

American Heart Association: Health Disparities Among the Many Unique Challenges for People in Rural America

According to data reported in the Call to Action: Rural Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, people living in rural parts of the U.S. are 40% more likely to develop heart disease and have a 30% higher risk of stroke than people who live in urban areas. Unique health challenges related to individual risk factors, social determinants of health and lack of access to health care drive these disparities. Telehealth and digitally enabled health care is leveraged for patients in communities with broadband, though technology is lagging in the most remote areas.