COPD Urban-Rural Differences as a Public Health Issue

Key points

  • Rural residents face higher risks for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • Rural areas have more smoking, less access to programs to help quit smoking, and limited healthcare.
  • Improved access to healthcare can lead to better quality of life and reduced deaths.
Human Respiratory System

Overview

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of respiratory conditions that makes breathing difficult for millions of Americans. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

COPD is responsible for most deaths caused by chronic lower respiratory diseases. It was the fourth most common cause of death in the United States in 2016.1

People who live in rural areas might have more problems related to COPD because more of them smoke.2 Rural residents also have increased exposure to secondhand smoke and less access to programs to help them quit smoking compared to people in urban areas.3 Rural residents are more likely not to have health insurance and have less money. This can make it harder for them to get diagnosed and treated early for COPD.4

Strategies

Making it easier for people in rural areas to get diagnosed and receive treatment for COPD early can improve their quality of life. It can reduce how many times they have to go back to the hospital. It can also reduce the number of deaths from COPD.

Programs and policies to help people who live in rural areas quit smoking can improve their lung function. Widespread treatment in rural areas, like pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen therapy, can also be beneficial. There is also a need for programs that teach people how to manage their chronic diseases better.

An infographic titled "COPD Burden Higher in Rural America." The content is divided into three columns. Column 1 is titled "Burden is High" and has text stating "15 million people" and ">150,000 deaths". Columns 2 is titled "Prevalence Highest in Rural Areas" and has text stating "8.2% in Rural" and "4.7% in large metro." Column 3 is titled "People with COPD should" and has text stating "not smoke, get flu and pneumococcal vaccines, be physically active, ask about pulmonary rehab".
Learn more about the COPD Burden in Rural America.

Working together

Healthcare providers and community partners in rural areas can help adults with COPD get better access to and participate in healthcare treatments.

Resources

COPD Resources - Educational resources for pulmonary rehabilitation, self-management, and patient support groups

COPD Self-Management Tools - Resources to help you manage your COPD

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program - Educational resources from CDC

COPD Learn More Breathe Better program - COPD program from National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program - Personalized treatment program that teaches you how to manage your COPD symptoms to improve your quality of life

Cost of COPD - The state of COPD and insurance costs, earnings lost, and projections

Print
Content Source:
Public Health Infrastructure Center
  1. Heron M. Deaths: Leading causes for 2016. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 67 no 6 [PDF – 87 KB]. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018.
  2. Matthews KA, Croft JB, Liu Y, et al. Health-related behaviors by urban-rural county classification—United States, 2013. MMWR Surveill Summ 2017;66(No. SS-5).
  3. American Lung Association. Cutting tobacco's rural roots: Tobacco use in rural communities. ALA, Washington, DC; 2012.
  4. University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. County Health Rankings Key Findings 2016.