Rural-Urban Differences in Diagnosed Cervical Artery Dissection in New York State

Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) is the leading cause of stroke in young adults. A recent study featuring PISC External Advisory Board Member Charles Branas, PhD, evaluates the rate at which CeAD is diagnosed in rural and urban regions in New York State. Data is drawn from the NYS Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System and the US Department of Agriculture. Regions are classified as metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, and rural, and effects are calculated using negative binomial models. Results indicate that, after adjusting for population, non-rural regions are significantly more likely to report CeAD cases than rural regions. There is ambiguity as to whether urban regions are over-diagnosing CeAD or rural regions are under-diagnosing CeAD. Further research is necessary to understand the implications of region-based CeAD diagnosis disparities on patient health.

 

Read the full publication