Heart Disease is More Prevalent in Appalachia

Title: Combating Heart Disease in Appalachia (opens in a new window)

Author: ARC Staff

Citation: ARC Staff. (2023, January 9). Creating a culture of Health in Appalachia. Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia.

According to “Combating heart Disease in Appalachia” written by the ARC Staff, studies show that the heart disease mortality rate in Appalachia was 17 percent higher than the national rate (ARC Staff, 2023).

  • Heart disease mortality rate in Appalachia was 204 per 100,000 population.
  • 17 percent higher than the national rate of 175 per 100,000 population.
  • Rural counties have a mortality rate 27 percent higher than the Region’s large metro counties.
  • Distressed counties have a rate 29 percent higher than non-distressed counties.
  • All five subregions in Appalachia have heart disease mortality rates higher than the national rate.
  •  The Central Appalachian rate of 249 per 100,000 population is nearly 1.5 times higher than the national rate, and all but 2 of the 82 counties in Central Appalachia have heart disease mortality rates higher than the national rate.

Title: Health Disparities in Appalachia (opens in a new window)

Citation: PDA, Inc., The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, & Appalachian Regional Commission. (2017). Health Disparities in Appalachia. Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia.