Health Disparities in Rural America: Current Challenges and Future Solutions

Approximately 60 million Americans reside in rural areas of the United States. Although this represents only 20% of the US population, rural Americans have a lower life expectancy than their metropolitan counterparts.1,2 The higher rate of premature death can be traced to a higher incidence of heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, respiratory disease, and stroke. In addition, infant mortality, alcohol and drug abuse, obesity, diabetes, and HIV infection affect a higher percentage of rural Americans compared with urban residents.3,4