The study, conducted by researchers at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, found that older residents in rural areas are more likely to undergo any of nine common surgeries than residents in cities. Back surgery, hip and knee replacements and prostate removal were performed more often in rural Medicare patients, and rural residents also underwent emergency surgery and elective surgery more frequently.
The study results seem to question a widely-held belief about lack of access to care in rural areas. However, according to the report, the study does not indicate where rural residents underwent surgery, how patients recovered after the operation or whether rural residents were in worse overall health than their city counterparts. Long-term illness and co-morbidities could make surgery more necessary for some residents, skewing the results of the study.
The researchers used ZIP codes and a government classification system that ranks regions on a 10-point scale, 1 being the most urban and 10 being the most rural. They compared surgery rates among residents in regions 7-10 (most rural) with residents in regions 1-3 (most urban). According to the study results, rural residents were 20 percent more likely to undergo heart valve replacement and 15 percent more likely to undergo knee or hip replacement.
Rural residents were also more likely to undergo prostate surgery, appendectomies, surgery to remove neck artery blockages and broken hip surgery, according to the report.
Read the Seattle Times report on surgery in rural areas.
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