Rural Versus Urban Health Disparities in the COVID-19 Era Among Veterans With COPD

Individuals living in rural areas in the United States experienced disparities in COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates, and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at high risk of poor outcomes. We sought to determine whether veterans with COPD living in rural areas experienced different perceptions and practices of COVID-19 mitigation strategies, access to care, and health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to their urban-living counterparts. We performed a one-time survey of veterans with COPD, collecting COVID-19-related information including individual perceptions and practice of mitigation strategies, COVID-19 vaccination status, access to care, and respiratory symptoms stratified by rural-urban status. A total of 100 participants completed the survey with 47 living in rural areas and 53 living in urban areas. There were no significant differences in perceptions and practices related to COVID-19 mitigation strategies (including vaccination), access to care, or respiratory and mental health outcomes. This lack of disparity between rural and urban veterans with COPD might be explained by the strength of the Veterans Health Administration in telemedicine or by an increased uptake of mitigation practices in people with chronic respiratory illness.