Improving rheumatoid arthritis care in rural communities
Population-Based Outcomes Research for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rural Health Disparities
This project uses health records and AI to find people with early rheumatoid arthritis so they can be diagnosed and treated sooner, with special focus on rural residents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11196202 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of a population-based effort that follows people who develop rheumatoid arthritis over time to see how long it takes to get diagnosed and start treatment. The team will build and test an AI algorithm trained on clinical data and lab results (like anti-CCP antibodies) to flag likely early RA cases. They will compare long-term health outcomes for people living in rural versus urban areas and against people without RA. The work aims to pinpoint delays and gaps in care and create tools that help clinicians recognize RA earlier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are U.S. residents who have new or suspected early rheumatoid arthritis or who are included in participating health-record systems from rural or urban communities.
Not a fit: People without RA or those whose medical records are not accessible through participating health systems may not receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help people with RA get diagnosed and start treatment sooner, reducing irreversible joint damage and shrinking rural care gaps.
How similar studies have performed: Early-treatment studies show better outcomes for RA and some AI tools can flag RA in electronic records, but using AI specifically to address rural diagnostic delays is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crowson, Cynthia S — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Crowson, Cynthia S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.