Building Capacity for Chronic Disease Education and Awareness Funded Projects

Projects funded by the 4-year grant (Building Capacity for Education and Awareness Project, CDC-RFA-DP23-0067) include:

Building Capacity for COPD Education and Awareness Project

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death in the nation. According to the COPD National Action Plan, smoking is a key factor in the development and progression of COPD¹. COPD has been the fourth leading cause of death in Vermont since 2016². In 2021, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) reported that approximately 7% of adult Vermonters were living with COPD compared to 6% of adults nationwide. This project will strengthen the evidence base for a chronic disease that does not currently have dedicated resources by creating a state COPD Program to increase awareness, engagement and education among three primary audiences (public—including those with COPD and their caregivers, public health—including other chronic disease programs, and clinicians and their care teams) and deliver COPD trainings for guideline-based, person-centered care. A key component of this project will support a Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) training on COPD management.

Recipient: Vermont Agency of Human Services

Atopic Dermatitis is More Than a Skin Disease: Raising Awareness and Improving Care Project

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects up to 13% of children and 7% of adults in the US of all ages, races, and ethnicities.^3–5 Undiagnosed and/or uncontrolled AD is a primary driver of AD disease burden, negative impacts to overall physical and mental health, and increased healthcare utilization.^6–8 This project will increase awareness and knowledge of the prevalence, significance, and seriousness of AD as more than a skin disease among public health professionals, primary care providers, affected patients and their families, and the public. The activities will highlight the need for timely diagnosis and ongoing disease control to alleviate health burden and minimize harmful impacts to quality of life across all AD severities, providing practical management tools and resources for patients and community-based healthcare providers.

Recipient: National Eczema Association

Building Capacity for and Promoting Awareness of Evidence-based Prevention and Management of Chronic Venous Thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading contributor of disease burden globally, with an incidence of 1–2 per 1000 adults per year and an upward trend.^9–12 VTE comprises deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a blood clot in the extremities, and pulmonary embolism (PE), which occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs. The project aims to implement activities to improve VTE prevention, management, and public awareness. Key components of this project will be the use of the VTE surveillance system, compiling an inventory of VTE public education materials with key partners, creating a digital resource center to deliver current practices and information, reviewing and synthesizing information on evidence-based strategies for best practices and policies related to VTE and drafting both a county and national indicator report with statistics, policies, and practice on VTE in the public health space. Achieving the proposed strategies will expand and advance CDC’s current work on education, outreach, and public awareness of VTE and contribute to the knowledge base in VTE education, prevention, and management.

Recipient: Board of Regents University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Building Capacity for Polymyalgia Rheumatica Education and Awareness

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic condition that causes substantial disability. PMR affects approximately 700,000 people in the U.S. and occurs almost exclusively after age 50.^13–21 People with PMR also have a high risk (20%) of giant cell arteritis (GCA), an inflammatory disease of the large blood vessels. GCA can cause sudden and irreversible blindness and increases the risk of stroke, aneurysm, and blood clots, all of which are life-threatening and increase morbidity and mortality.^21–30 The Global Healthy Living Foundation, Inc. aims to improve education and awareness for meaningful improvement in patient and population-level outcomes. This project will focus on improving surveillance, diagnosis, and best-practice treatment. Key components of this project will be to establish a baseline measurement of data on PMR, evaluate baseline awareness of PMR identify and prioritize gaps in the PMR data, synthesize the knowledge on PMR to create an educational webinar for patients and care partners and publish reports summarizing the data collected and the tools developed.

Recipient: Global Healthy Living Foundation, Inc.

1. National Institutes of Health. COPD National Action Plan; 2017. Accessed October 3, 2023. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/COPD-national-action-plan

2. Vermont Agency of Human Services. Annual Vital Statistics Reports. Accessed October 4, 2023. https://www.healthvermont.gov/stats/vital-records-population-data/annual-vital-statistics-reports

3. Hua T, Silverberg JL. Atopic dermatitis in US adults: epidemiology, association with marital status, and atopy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;121(5):622-624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2018.07.019

4. Silverberg JI, Simpson EL. Associations of childhood eczema severity: a US population-based study. Dermatitis. 2014;25(3):107-114. https://doi.org/10.1097/DER.0000000000000034

5. Chiesa Fuxench ZC, Block JK, Boguniewicz M, et al. Atopic Dermatitis in America Study: a cross-sectional study examining the prevalence and disease burden of atopic dermatitis in the US adult population. J Invest Dermatol. 2019;139(3):583−590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2018.08.028

6. Elsawi R, Dainty K, Smith Begolka W, et al. The multidimensional burden of atopic dermatitis among adults: results from a large national survey. JAMA Dermatol. 2022;158(8):887−892. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.1906

7. Wei W, Anderson P, Gadkari A, et al. Extent and consequences of inadequate disease control among adults with a history of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. J Dermatol. 2018;45(2):150−157. https://doi.org/10.1111/1346-8138.14116

8. Capozza K, Funk M, Hering M, et al. Patients’ and caregivers’ experiences with atopic dermatitis-related burden, medical care, and treatments in 8 countries. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023;11(1):264-273.E1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2022.10.032

9. Oleksiuk-Bojko M, Lisowska A. Venous thromboembolism: Why is it still a significant health problem? Adv Med Sci. Mar 2023;68(1):10-20. doi:10.1016/j.advms.2022.10.002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advms.2022.10.002

10. Wendelboe AM, Raskob GE. Global burden of thrombosis: epidemiologic aspects. Circ Res. 2016;118(9):1340−7. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.115.306841

11. Grosse SD, Nelson RE, Nyarko KA, Richardson LC, Raskob GE. The economic burden of incident venous thromboembolism in the United States: A review of estimated attributable healthcare costs. Thromb Res. 2016;137:3−10.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thromres.2015.11.033

12. McFarland L, Ward A, Greenfield S, et al. ExPeKT—Exploring prevention and knowledge of venous thromboembolism: a two-stage, mixed- method study protocol. BMJ Open. 2013;3(4):e002766. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002766

13. Chuang TY, Hunder GG, Ilstrup DM, Kurland LT. Polymyalgia rheumatica: a 10-year epidemiologic and clinical study. Ann Intern Med. 1982;97(5):672-680. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-97-5-672

14. Doran MF, Crowson CS, O’Fallon WM, Hunder GG, Gabriel SE. Trends in the incidence of polymyalgia rheumatica over a 30-year period in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA. J Rheumatol. 2002;29(8):1694-1697. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.509

15. Lawrence RC, Felson DT, Helmick CG, et al. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part II. Arthritis Rheum. 2008;58(1):26-35. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.23176

16. Noltorp S, Svensson B. High incidence of polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis in a Swedish community. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 1991;9(4):351-355. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra011913

17. Emamifar A, Hess S, Ellingsen T, et al. Clinical presentation and treatment response in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis during a 40-week follow-up. Rheumatol Adv Pract.2021;5(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/rap/rkab091

18. Caporali R, Montecucco C, Epis O, Bobbio-Pallavicini F, Maio T, Cimmino MA. Presenting features of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and rheumatoid arthritis with PMR-like onset: a prospective study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2001;60(11):1021-1024. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.60.11.1021

19. Michailidou D, Zhang T, Stamatis P, Ng B. Risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism in patient with giant cell arteritis and/or polymyalgia rheumatica: a Veterans Health Administration population-based study in the United States. J Intern Med. May 2022;291(5):665−675. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13446

20. Delecoeuillerie G, Joly P, Cohen de Lara A, Paolaggi JB. Polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis: a retrospective analysis of prognostic features and different corticosteroid regimens (11-year survey of 210 patients). Ann Rheum Dis. 1988;47(9):733−739. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.47.9.733

21. Jones JG, Hazleman BL. Prognosis and management of polymyalgia rheumatica. Ann Rheum Dis. 1981;40(1):1-5. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.40.1.1

22. Säve-Söderbergh J, Malmvall BE, Andersson R, Bengtsson BA. Giant cell arteritis as a cause of death. Report of nine cases. JAMA. 1986;255(4):493-496. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1986.03370040067025

23. Hemmig AK, Gozzoli D, Werlen L, et al. Subclinical giant cell arteritis in new onset polymyalgia rheumatica A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022;55:152017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152017

24. Burg LC, Karakostas P, Behning C, Brossart P, Kermani TA, Schäfer VS. Prevalence and characteristics of giant cell arteritis in patients with newly diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica – a prospective cohort study. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2023;15:1759720×221149963. https://doi.org/10.1177/1759720×221149963

25. De Miguel E, Macchioni P, Conticini E, et al. Prevalence and characteristics of subclinical giant cell arteritis in polymyalgia rheumatica. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023;kead189. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kead189