Photo: Samantha Holomay
Samantha Holomay – Mar 27, 2025 – Castanet
A rural lifestyle is typically associated with a slower pace and higher quality of life but a new study has revealed that rural areas face higher rates of many of the most prevalent chronic diseases.
According to a Statistics Canada study released in March 2025, rural areas with fewer than 10,000 have higher rates of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis compared to residents living in more populated areas.
Other chronic diseases mentioned in the study include: cancer, stroke, and mood disorders.
Interior Health said that the rate of chronic diseases is tracked through the Chronic Disease Dashboard that documents non-communicable diseases and conditions across B.C..
“Chronic diseases have been higher in the last count compared to 10 years ago,” said Medical Health Officer Dr. Fatemeh Sabet. “We know that in older age people with chronic conditions… increases.”
Hypertension, defined as high blood pressure reading 130/80 units of millimetres of mercury (mmHg) or higher, is the most prevalent chronic disease in the RKDB for people aged 65 and older, and was the second most leading condition across all ages from 2023-2023.
Sabet said that a lack of nearby health resources has contributed to the increase of chronic diseases within rural areas.
