Underserved rural populations

A new study finds that a home-based phone intervention improved uptake of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for Navajo patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, or the inability to pump enough blood into the body.

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure (BP), is a serious condition that can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, and early death. It is very common in the United States, particularly among Black adults.

Although high BP is treatable, treatment can be difficult to access, especially in rural areas with few doctors’ offices. In the rural Southeastern United States, where more than half of Black adults have been diagnosed with hypertension, distance and high transportation costs make it difficult for patients to attend regular doctor’s visits to manage their BP.

Neighborhood poverty and the challenging living conditions that can come with it—such as higher vigilance, lower trust, and environmental dangers–have been linked to an accumulation of stress that can contribute to cellular aging and health problems later in life.

Diabetes requires lifelong care. Accessing that care may be more difficult in some places—especially rural areas—than in others. In addition, people who live in rural areas may be at higher risk for developing diabetes. A new NIMHD-supported study investigated the role of rurality in diabetes and found that U.S. rural counties have higher diabetes mortality rates than urban areas.

Conversation with Dr. Guadalupe X. Ayala, San Diego State University

Exploring new and adapted interventions to reduce Latino health disparities in obesity, diabetes, and asthma

NIMHD's Conversations with Principal Investigators at Research Centers in Minority Institutions

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this year, we are recognizing prominent researchers impacting minority health and health disparities at institutions that are historically committed to training populations underrepresented in science.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and in-hospital mortality is associated with the arrival time of the patient.