Darrell Dixon’s father suffered a major heart attack at the young age of 25 in the rural Mississippi Delta. Years of subsequent heart attacks weakened his heart, ultimately leading to his passing at 49 years old in 2013. The event prompted Dixon, now 36, to ponder his own hereditary risk of heart disease.
In response to the high rates of heart and lung diseases in rural parts of the South, researchers from prominent institutions have launched an extensive health study. With the aim of understanding the elevated disease rates in these areas, the research team is testing and surveying thousands of residents.
Led by Dr. Vasan Ramachandran, the project targets 4,600 individuals across 10 counties in Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The initiative involves assessing participants’ heart and lung function, gathering data on their health history and lifestyles, and providing them with fitness trackers for long-term monitoring.
The 52-foot-long, 27-ton mobile medical unit is equipped to examine various health markers, such as artery calcium levels, heart structure, lung capacity, blood pressure, and weight, in addition to other health indicators. The team is focusing on areas where rural populations face significant health challenges compared to urban areas.
Rural communities often experience limited access to healthcare due to hospital closures and physician shortages, along with higher poverty rates and lower health insurance coverage. Unhealthy lifestyle factors like smoking and obesity are also prevalent, contributing to the high rates of heart and lung diseases in these regions.
To gain insights into the underlying reasons for these health disparities, the study also includes low-risk rural areas for comparison within the same states. By examining both high-risk and low-risk regions, researchers hope to identify factors contributing to better health outcomes in some rural counties.
The study intends to continue until 2031, with plans to reassess all participants in person. Through this comprehensive approach, researchers aim to improve understanding of disease development and progression, ultimately working towards addressing the health challenges faced by rural populations in the South.