Building Capacity for Chronic Disease Education and Awareness: Funded Projects

At a glance

Projects funded by this 4-year grant (2023–2027) are intended to strengthen the science base for prevention and promote awareness and education for chronic diseases that do not currently have dedicated resources. Recipients are leading projects in four disease areas: atopic dermatitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic venous thromboembolism, and polymyalgia rheumatica.

Diverse group of medical professionals all looking at a laptop in a meeting.

Atopic dermatitis

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects up to 13% of U.S. children and 7% of adults of all ages, races, and ethnicities.[15, 16] Undiagnosed or uncontrolled atopic dermatitis affects overall physical and mental health and increases health care use among those affected.

Funded Project: Atopic Dermatitis Is More Than a Skin Disease: Raising Awareness and Improving Care.

Recipient: National Eczema Association

Approach: The National Eczema Association will increase awareness and knowledge of the prevalence, significance, and seriousness of atopic dermatitis as more than a skin disease. Efforts will aim to reach public health professionals, primary care providers, patients, families, and the general public. Activities will highlight the need for timely diagnosis and ongoing disease control to minimize impact on health and quality of life, providing practical management tools and resources for patients and health care providers.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been the fourth leading cause of death in Vermont since 2016.1 In 2022, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System reported that about 7% of adults in Vermont were living with COPD, similar to the percentage nationwide.

Funded Project: Building Capacity for COPD Education and Awareness.

Recipient: Vermont Agency of Human Services

Approach: The Vermont Agency of Human Services will create a state COPD program to increase awareness, engagement, and education among three main audiences: (1) the public, including people with COPD and their caregivers; (2) public health organizations, including other chronic disease programs; and (3) clinicians and their care teams. The project will deliver trainings for guideline-based, person-centered care. It will also support a Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) training on COPD management.

Chronic venous thromboembolism

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) comprises deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in the extremities) and pulmonary embolism (which occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs). Globally, VTE is a leading contributor of disease burden with an incidence of 1 to 3 per 1,000 adults per year. 2

Funded Project: Building Capacity for and Promoting Awareness of Evidence-based Prevention and Management of Chronic VTE.

Recipient: Board of Regents University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Approach: The project aims to improve VTE prevention, management, and public awareness. Key components of this project include: (1) establishing a surveillance system; (2) synthesizing information on evidence-based strategies for best practices and policies; and (3) developing a county and national indicator report. These strategies are intended to 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.

Polymyalgia rheumatica

Background: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the body's joints, muscles or connective tissues, causing substantial disability. PMR affects about 700,000 people in the United States and occurs almost exclusively after age 50.3 People with PMR also have a high risk of developing giant cell arteritis—an inflammatory disease of the large blood vessels that can cause sudden and irreversible blindness and increase the risk of stroke, aneurysm, and blood clots.45

Funded Project: Building Capacity for PMR Education and Awareness.

Recipient: Global Healthy Living Foundation, Inc.

Approach: The recipient will improve PMR 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 include:

  • Establishing a baseline measurement of data on PMR.
  • Evaluating baseline awareness of PMR.
  • Identifying and addressing gaps in the PMR data.
  • Synthesizing knowledge on PMR to create an educational webinar for patients and care partners.
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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
  1. Vermont Agency of Human Services. Annual Vital Statistics Reports. Accessed October 4, 2023.
  2. Wendelboe AM, Raskob GE. Global burden of thrombosis: epidemiologic aspects. Circ Res. 2016;118(9):1340−7. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.115.306841.
  3. 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. doi:10.1002/art.23176
  4. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/polymyalgia-rheumatica-giant-cell-arteritis
  5. Ameer MA, Vaqar S, Khazaeni B. Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis) [Updated 2024 May 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
  • 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.
  • Silverberg JI, Simpson EL. Associations of childhood eczema severity: a US population-based study.Dermatitis. 2014;25(3):107-114.