RURAL Health and Lung Study Coming to Franklin Parish in Louisiana

Comparable rural parishes to shed light on health disparities; Study heads to Franklin following data gathering in Assumption Parish

The Risks Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal, or RURAL, Heart and Lung study will arrive in Louisiana's Franklin Parish on Tuesday, Aug. 13. The study team, who were stationed in Assumption Parish starting in February 2024, are conducting a comprehensive longitudinal cohort study designed to help researchers better understand the underlying health risks faced by residents in rural areas.

Though population health has long been evaluated by comparing the health of residents of urban areas to those in rural areas, very few studies have compared the health of those in lower-risk rural areas to those in higher-risk rural areas. Residents in two comparable Louisiana parishes, Assumption and Franklin, are playing a significant role in RURAL, a first of its kind study to evaluate the causes behind health disparities.

"Residents of Franklin Parish are strongly encouraged to participate in the RURAL study, just as their counterparts in Assumption Parish did," said Dr. Stephanie Broyles, health researcher at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. "The RURAL study provides us with a unique opportunity to explore why two similar areas have such distinct health profiles. Franklin Parish residents who participate will not only learn about their own health and be compensated for their time, but they will also help us better understand the factors that contribute to differing health outcomes."

The Mobile Exam Unit for the RURAL study will be at the Franklin Medical Center, at 2106 Loop Road in Winnsboro, with a kickoff event scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 4:30 p.m. The event will feature refreshments, give aways, tours of the Mobile Exam Unit, and an opportunity to hear from local leaders on the benefits of the RURAL study. The study is directed in Louisiana by Dr. Broyles from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, who is collaborating with a team from across the country to better understand the underlying risk faced by residents in rural counties.

"As a resident of Franklin Parish for over 25 years, and someone who's lost loved ones to cardiovascular disease, this project really hits home for me. I truly believe the RURAL Study will be a blessing to our community and to all the individuals who participate," said Kevin Carroll, Community Engagement Coordinator for the RURAL study.

Having launched in Louisiana in Assumption Parish earlier in the year, the RURAL Study has already visited counties in Mississippi and Alabama. Upon the study's completion in Franklin Parish, it will then move on to collect similar data from residents of counties in Kentucky.

The choice of Assumption and Franklin Parishes as study locations was made based on specific health considerations. When the RURAL study was first conceived, Assumption Parish had a higher rate of obesity than Franklin Parish. While Assumption Parish is similar in size and demographics to Franklin Parish, it has a notably better overall health profile.

Assumption Parish is not far behind Franklin Parish in the total prevalence of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes, but in terms of deaths from cardiovascular disease, the rate of death in Franklin Parish is almost two times higher than that of Assumption Parish, which is one of many conflicting data points that the RURAL Heart and Lung Study is intended to explore. Franklin Parish held the unfortunate distinction of being ranked as the worst county/parish out of 3,000-plus counties in the United States for cardiovascular disease-related deaths.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Franklin Parish maintained this designation in seven out of the past 10 years. Closer to home, these numbers mean that many residents of Franklin Parish have prematurely lost friends and family members to cardiovascular issues.

Overall, the study will encompass over 4,000 participants between the ages of 25 and 64 from rural counties categorized as either high- or low-risk. Residents of Franklin Parish can play a pivotal role in providing better understanding of the health issues in rural areas—a region that stands to benefit tremendously from this research. If you would like to participate, you may call 1-888-RURALST (1-888-787-2578) or visit theruralstudy.org to learn more about the RURAL Heart and Lung Study.

About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. The Center conducts basic, clinical, and population research, and is a campus of the LSU System. The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 530 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a state-of-the-art research facility on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge. For more information, see www.pbrc.edu.

Provided by Louisiana State University