1 in 5 Americans live in a rural area.
Rural Americans face more health challenges than people living in cities and difficulties getting healthcare because of:
- Clinician shortages
- Hospital closings
- Long distances to get to hospitals, specialists and pharmacies
- Lack of public transportation
These factors make it harder to live with COPD.
What Is COPD?
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a progressive lung condition that causes inflammation of the airways, making it hard to breathe.
COPD is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S.
COPD in Rural Areas
1 in 12 of people in rural areas have COPD compared to 1 in 20 in urban areas.
Compared to people who live in cities, people in rural areas are:
- 2x as likely to have COPD
- More likely to go to the hospital for COPD
- More likely to die from COPD
Why COPD Is Worse in Rural Areas
People in rural areas:
- Are more likely to smoke
- Have fewer stop-smoking programs
- Are more likely to work in industries that expose them to pollutants
- Live with more indoor pollution from burning wood or coal for heating or cooking
- Have more medical problems that can make COPD worse
- Have less money to afford medications to treat COPD
- Are more likely to not have health insurance
- Have less access to healthcare, including specialists who treat COPD
- May have more trouble getting diagnosed and treated for COPD
How to Manage COPD in Rural America
- Track disease progression and symptoms to know if they’re getting worse
- Use that information as an early warning and get to care
- Use telehealth for:
- Remote monitoring to track symptoms, trends and triggers
- Digital pulmonary rehab to learn strategies
- Routine and time-sensitive care
- Line up transportation in advance
- Insurance may cover transportation or local nonprofits may help
- Medicaid is required to pay for non-emergency medical transportation
- Make a COPD Action Plan with:
- Your medicines
- How to know it’s time to seek care
- How to reach your clinician
- Transportation options
- Make lifestyle choices that keep COPD from getting worse
- Quit smoking
- Exercise for strength and stamina
- Eat nutritious foods
- Avoid irritants like dust and pollen
- Get good sleep
- Get vaccinated to prevent infections that make COPD worse
- Advocate for yourself
- You may have to look harder or travel farther for a lung specialist.
- Most health insurance (including the VA and Medicaid) have to offer specialists within a certain travel time or distance. If they don’t, you can get an exception to see someone out of the insurance network (but you have to request it).
- Find free or lower-cost care from rural and federally qualified health centers.
Remember: You ALWAYS have the right to emergency care.
Resources
American Lung Association – My COPD Action Plan
COPD Action Alliance – Veterans and COPD
COPD Foundation – My COPD Action Plan
This educational resource was created with support from Chiesi, Sanofi and Regeneron.
- FAQs About COPD ›
- How Air Quality Affects COPD ›
- Freedom to Breathe: Disparities and COPD ›
- Clinically Speaking: Questions and Answers About COPD ›
- COPD 101 ›
