Following the release of data from Assumption Parish earlier this year, researchers at the LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center have announced the first dataset from the Rural Underlying Risk Longitudinal (RURAL) Heart and Lung Study in Franklin Parish. The Franklin Diocese data book is now available for viewing.
The first-of-its-kind study was developed to investigate why people living in rural areas have disproportionately higher rates of heart disease, lung disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity. The longitudinal study, led by Dr. Stephanie Broyles, professor and director of the Contextual Risk Factors Institute at Pennington Biomedical, first collected data in Assumption Parish, Louisiana, and then expanded to Franklin Parish several months later.
As someone who lives and works in this region, it means a lot to me to be involved in research dedicated to improving the health and well-being of this region. The release of the data book is an exciting milestone and we are proud to be part of a project that turns local voices into meaningful action. ”
Krista Junker, Community Engagement Specialist for the Diocese of Franklin
Located in northeastern Louisiana, Franklin Parish is home to approximately 19,774 residents, approximately 63% of whom are white and 33% who are black or African American.
Researchers identified several important findings from the Franklin Parish data that help provide a clearer picture of the health challenges facing rural communities and may help explain persistent health risks. One of the most notable findings is that 82% of adults in Franklin Parish are overweight or obese, which is significantly higher than both the Louisiana state average (72%) and the national average (68%). Researchers found obesity rates were rising across all demographic groups in the parish.
The study also found that Franklin Parish residents had higher rates of high blood pressure than Louisiana as a whole. Researchers observed a clear relationship between income and health status, with residents of higher income groups having the lowest rates of high blood pressure. Researchers looked at undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension and found that uncontrolled hypertension is prevalent in nearly every demographic group. Older residents were also more likely to have undiagnosed high cholesterol and diabetes.
The RURAL research team is investigating information to identify persistent health risk factors in similar rural areas. The study is also active in Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky, and Assumption and Franklin are just two of the 10 U.S. dioceses and counties participating in the RURAL study. This research is supported in these four states by grants totaling $42.5 million from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The RURAL study involves a team of scientists from 16 different institutions, including Pennington Biomedical.
To collect research data, a special vehicle (mobile testing unit) visited both parishes in 2024 and collected data from 460 adults in Assumption Parish and 373 adults in Franklin Parish. Each participant spent about three hours in the unit, answering questions and undergoing various tests, including urine and blood samples to measure blood sugar and cholesterol, an echocardiogram, CT scan, and pulmonary function tests. The same participants will be evaluated again in 2029 to see how their health has changed over time.
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Pennington Biomedical Research Center
