A public health framework for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Background: In the first quarter of 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its partners which included other federal agencies, academia, the health care sector, COPD stakeholders, and national organizations, examined the current state of knowledge regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: This COPD workgroup identified public health gaps and suggested goals that defined the unique role and contributions that public health could play in the prevention and control of COPD. Results: The four public health goals that were identified by the workgroup included (1)surveillance and evaluation: improving collection, analysis, dissemination, and reporting of COPD-related public health data; (2)public health research and prevention strategies: improving understanding of COPD development, prevention, and treatment; (3)policies and programs: increasing effective collaboration among stakeholders with COPD-related interests; and (4)communication: increasing awareness of COPD among a broad spectrum of stakeholders and decision makers. Conclusion: This session presentation will discuss the workgroup's report, entitled The Public Health Strategic Framework for COPD and which will provide a framework for the public health community to address COPD and increase awareness of COPD as an important public health issue.