Expanding the National Approach to Chronic Disease Education and Awareness Funded Projects

Highlights

Projects funded by this 3-year grant (2024–2027) are intended to promote awareness, education, and outreach on chronic diseases for which awareness is limited and there is no dedicated CDC funding. These include adult food allergies, chronic liver disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, and urinary incontinence.

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Adult food allergies

Background: According to Food Allergy and Research and Education, an estimated 33 million Americans have at least one food allergy. In 2021, 6.2% of adults had a food allergy. [1] About half of U.S. adults with a food allergy have had a severe food allergy reaction that could lead to a life-threatening outcome. [2]

Funded Project: Food Allergy: Advancing Wellness, Awareness and Resources to Educate (AWARE)

Recipient: Food Allergy Research and Education

Approach: Food Allergy Research and Education will increase awareness and knowledge of the growing prevalence, societal cost, and burden of food allergies as a life-threatening, chronic disease among public health professionals, primary care clinicians, affected patients, caregivers, and the public.


Chronic liver disease

Background: Chronic liver disease is the progressive deterioration of healthy liver function. In 2022, it was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly 55,000 deaths. [3]

Funded project: LIVERWISE: Healthy Liver, Healthy Life!

Recipient: National Alliance for Hispanic Health

Approach: Through community-driven efforts, LIVERWISE aims to reduce disparities in the incidence of chronic liver diseases, improve early detection, and bolster effective treatment and management in underserved communities, with an emphasis on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.


Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is recognized as a serious chronic disease that affects tissue surrounding the alveoli (tiny air sacs) in the lungs. The disease develops when lung tissue becomes thick, inflamed, and stiff for unknown reasons. In the United States, the estimated prevalence is 12.3–234.5 per 100,000 adults, and the estimated incidence is 5.2–77.3 per 100,000 adults per year, depending on age. [4]

Funded Project: Bridging Gaps in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis through Advancing Awareness and Education

Recipient: American College of Chest Physicians

Approach: Through this project, the American College of Chest Physicians will expand its focus from developing resources and messaging for an audience of primary care and pulmonary care physicians to a larger audience that includes public health professionals and the general population.

Osteoporosis

Background: Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 54 million U.S. adults (2010 estimate). About 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and 44 million more have low bone mass, putting them at increased risk for bone fracture. [5]

Funded Project: Building Osteoporosis Networks and Engagement Using Partnerships (BONEUP)

Recipient: Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation

Approach: Through BONEUP, the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation will deliver comprehensive education, outreach, and public awareness initiatives on osteoporosis and related bone disorders, collectively addressed as osteoporosis. By emphasizing best practices in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, management, and treatment of osteoporosis, this project will focus on high-risk demographic groups, people with comorbidities, and public health and health professionals.

Psoriasis

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated systemic inflammatory skin disease. People diagnosed with this disease are more likely to have multiple health issues and experience social anxiety. It affects 3% of U.S. adults, including 1.5% of Black and 1.9% of Hispanic/Latino adults. [6]

Funded Project: Increasing Awareness of Psoriasis as a Chronic Immune Mediated Systemic Inflammatory Disease to Improve Patient Outcomes

Recipient: National Psoriasis Foundation

Approach: This project aims to expand and strengthen engagement among public health professionals, health care providers, and the general public. By bolstering education and awareness, the project seeks to broaden screening, care, and suitable interventions for improved patient outcomes. This initiative emphasizes supporting Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino communities, the LGBTQ community, rural populations, economically disadvantaged people, and Medicare beneficiaries.

Urinary incontinence

Background: Studies suggest that women are disproportionately impacted by urinary incontinence due to factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, and they can experience feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. [7]

Funded Project: Improving Outcomes for Women through Increased Awareness of Urinary Incontinence

Recipient: National Association for Continence

Approach: Through this project, the National Association for Continence will analyze current evidence on the prevalence of urinary incontinence as well as access to care and treatment issues. This project will design training programs, materials, and toolkits to equip public health and health care professionals with the skills and resources to deliver patient-centered care. It will also evaluate and define best practices for screening, prevention, referral, treatment, and management of this condition in women, supplementing existing materials where gaps exist.


  • Ng AE, Boersma P. Diagnosed allergic conditions in adults: United States, 2021. NCHS Data Brief, no 460. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2023. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:122809.
  • Gupta RS, Warren CM, Smith BM, et al. Prevalence and severity of food allergies among US adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(1):e185630. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5630.
  • CDC, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2022 on CDC WONDER Online Database. http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10-expanded.html.
  • Esposito DB, Lanes S, Donneyong M, et al. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in United States Automated Claims. Incidence, Prevalence, and Algorithm Validation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2015;192(10):1200-1207. doi:10.1164/rccm.201504-0818OC.
  • Wright NC, Looker AC, Saag KG, et al. The recent prevalence of osteoporosis and low bone mass in the United States based on bone mineral density at the femoral neck or lumbar spine. J Bone Miner Res. 2014;29(11):2520-2526. doi:10.1002/jbmr.2269.
  • Armstrong AW, Mehta MD, Schupp CW, Gondo GC, Bell SJ, Griffiths CEM. Psoriasis Prevalence in Adults in the United States. JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(8):940-946. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2007.
  • Sensoy N, Dogan N, Ozek B, Karaaslan L. Urinary incontinence in women: prevalence rates, risk factors and impact on quality of life. Pak J Med Sci. 2013;29(3):818-822. doi:10.12669/pjms.293.3404.