Sunday, May 11, 2025
5/11/2025
Building Capacity for COPD Education and Awareness - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive, persistent airway limitation due to the chronic response of the lungs to irritating particles such as tobacco smoke. Permanent damage due to lung remodeling results in irreversible airflow obstruction and decreased lung function, and may be associated with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, certain genetic conditions and brain and/or spinal column injuries. COPD has been the fourth leading cause of death in Vermont since 2016 with a rate of 55.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (Vermont 2020 Vital Statistics Report). Approximately 7% of Vermonters are currently living with COPD compared to 6% in the U.S. (BRFSS 2021). As with most chronic diseases, certain populations have a greater burden of COPD; in Vermont this includes those with less education and lower household incomes. Vermont adults living with a disability are six times more likely to have COPD than those without a disability; in addition, those who are food insecure, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) and those who smoke cigarettes are impacted by high rates. In fact, Vermont adults who report having COPD smoke at a significantly higher rate than those without COPD (52% v 16%). These are serious health disparities that need to be addressed concerning prevalence and risk factors. CDC- funded state chronic disease programs that collect and publish data, convene stakeholders to create and implement a state action plan on the disease, use health promotion expertise, develop strategic partnership and strong collaborations, deploy medical and public health trainings in addition to evaluation for quality improvement can make significant progress in population level and priority population health outcomes associated with that disease. Through this funding opportunity, the Vermont Department of Health’s Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) will collaborate with CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to plan, implement, evaluate and disseminate findings on the benefits of a state COPD Program. Vermont is confident that its experience in implementing an equity-based State Health Improvement Plan, engaging community-based organizations and equity partners using lessons learned from COVID-19 response and working upstream to tackle social determinants of health (transportation, food access, education, housing) will all contribute to a successful COPD Program. The program will be housed in VDH’s HPDP whose staff are experienced in collaboration, chronic disease management and prevention programming, including previous experience in developing a COPD Initiative in Chicago, longstanding successful programs in asthma and tobacco and a growing body of work in healthy aging. Coupled with HPDP’s capacity in health promotion and education, provider engagement, business practices that meet all 45 CFR 75 requirements, health systems partnership including with the state Medicaid Office, and its close partnership with Health Surveillance and Informatics Division which performs extensive data collection and dissemination, the project will conduct and report on all strategies and outcomes, contributing to the national scientific base for COPD. The proposed COPD Program team serves on state and national councils, publishes in the peer reviewed journals, have worked together nearly seven years in respiratory health for the state, and are prepared to implement, document and share the findings of a state COPD Program. Together with multiple partners the program will increase awareness, clinical and public health knowledge, COPD patient and caregiver support, and earlier detection and diagnosis to drive progress in COPD outcomes that importantly benefit those impacted by the disease, those who need diagnosis and COPD caregivers. These achievements will be demonstrated by surveillance, evaluation, data presentation and publication.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).