Urban and Rural Patterns of Health Care Utilization Among People With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis in a Large US Patient Registry
Authors' conclusion
Individuals residing in urban areas were more likely than those in rural areas to report in-person health care utilization. Specifically, urban residents with RA were more likely to report rheumatologist visits, but less likely to report primary care visits. Less disparity existed in OA health care utilization, although an urban-rural disparity still existed by most measures.
Study context
- Population
- People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) in FORWARD, The National Databank for Rheumatic Diseases, completing questionnaires 1999–201937,802 RA
- Exposure
- Urban vs small rural/isolated and large rural residence
- Outcome
- Health care utilization (medical visits and diagnostic tests) from six-month questionnaires
Methodological detailsUS-wide registry (FORWARD), double selection LASSO with Poisson regression
- US-wide registry (FORWARD)
- Double selection LASSO with Poisson regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Health care utilization in RA
Urban vs Small rural/isolatedIncidence rate ratio (95% CI)
Rheumatologist visits
1.22(1.18–1.27)
Primary care visits
0.90(0.85–0.94)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Health care utilization in OA
- Urban residents more likely than rural residents to report health care utilization by most measures
Original publication
Urban and Rural Patterns of Health Care Utilization Among People With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis in a Large US Patient Registry. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 28 September 2023. doi:10.
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