XII. Environmental and Occupational Health

FY 2000 Performance Plan - Revised Final FY 1999 Performance Plan

Asthma

Deaths from asthma increased by 80% the past 10 years, and children are the most vulnerable group. Recent medical advances alone have not been able to counter this threat. With existing resources, CDC is working to develop cost effective environmental interventions that, in conjunction with improved medical management, will reduce the number of asthma exacerbations and improve the quality of life of people with asthma. Surveillance will be an integral part of any state programs so that efforts to reverse the current upward trends in asthma can be monitored and process assessed.

Performance Goals and Measures

Performance Goal: Reduce the incidence of childhood asthma attacks through implementation of comprehensive asthma prevention programs in states.

Performance Measure:

¹ CDC will continue to work with state and local health departments to build their capacity to address asthma and secure funds from other sources to implement asthma prevention programs..

In spite of the fact that improved medical management in combination with environmental interventions have been shown to be effective in preventing asthma attacks, it is clear that we will not meet our Healthy People 2000 objectives related to reductions in hospitalizations related to asthma. The minimal national data (which is neither complete, nor timely) that are available indicate that rates of asthma among both children and adults are increasing. Outcome goals are not currently feasible, because there is no suitable system for measurement since asthma programs do not currently exist. However, a core activity of state-based asthma prevention programs would be to establish surveillance systems that would allow us to track our progress as we attempt to reverse these worrisome trends. No funds were available for this activity in FY 1998. However, asthma points-of-contact were established in all 50 states during FY 1998. The cost of tracking our progress will be minimal, since grants management tracking systems are already in place.

Verification/Validation of Performance Measure: Efforts to build capacity in the state health departments to address the problem of asthma have been intensified. Asthma points of contact in each state have been identified, and information regarding research and prevention is being shared with all points of contact.

Links to DHHS Strategic Plan

This performance objective is related to DHHS Goal 1: Reduce major threats to the health and productivity of all Americans.

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