Science Saturday: Mayo Clinic study indicates U.S. rural counties have higher diabetes-related deaths

Research

Science Saturday: Mayo Clinic study indicates U.S. rural counties have higher diabetes-related deaths

By
Colette Gallagher

November 5, 2022

insulin needle, stethoscope and paper with the word diabetes

In a new study, Mayo Clinic researchers identified substantial health disparities in rural versus urban areas in diabetes-related deaths, with other disparities based on gender.

Using nationwide data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the researchers examined rates and trends from 1999 to 2018, in diabetes-related deaths among adults based on county urbanization, gender, age group, and region. In 2017-2018 compared with 1999-2000, diabetes-related deaths increased in men living in rural areas but decreased in women living in rural areas. Furthermore, death rates increased in adults 25 to 54 years old living in rural areas, and death rates increased in the rural South but not in other regions.

"Our goal was to examine the trends below a national level in diabetes-related deaths to guide the development of rural interventions to reduce deaths," says Sagar Dugani, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study. "Our results highlight the importance of exploring individual and community factors for diabetes-related deaths in rural areas."

Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires lifelong care. In the U.S., the prevalence of diabetes and access to diabetes care are affected by several factors, including residency in rural areas.

According to Dr. Dugani, the prevalence of diabetes is determined, in part, by trends in death rates. However, in rural populations, information is sparse on trends in diabetes-related deaths, thereby limiting the development of rural interventions to reduce death rates.

Read the rest of the article on the Advancing the Science blog.

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