Higher Mortality in Rural Patients Despite Comparable Access to Expert Care

Despite having comparable CD4-cell counts at presentation and more commonly receiving ART, patients residing in rural New England had a higher mortality rate than did those living in urban areas.

As the burden of HIV infection continues to expand beyond urban areas, understanding the distinct needs of patients living in rural areas is becoming increasingly important. To evaluate the association between rural residence and all-cause mortality, investigators in New Hampshire retrospectively analyzed data from 644 patients who had made at least one visit to a Dartmouth-Hitchcock HIV clinic between 1995 and 2005. All patients received care from the same multidisciplinary team of board-certified infectious disease physicians, nurses, psychologists, and specialized support staff.

Approximately half the patients were living in rural areas (i.e., outside of major New England cities or towns). Compared with urban-dwelling patients, rural pati…

Reviewing Author

John J.W. Fangman, MD

Higher Mortality in Rural Patients Despite Comparable Access to Expert Care

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Reviewing Author