Resources and priorities for chronic disease prevention and control, 1994.

Chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic liver disease) are the major causes of death, disability, and medical expenditures in the United States. Although these six diseases accounted for 73% of all U.S. deaths in 1993, characterization of the capacity and priorities of public health agencies to prevent or control these chronic diseases has been limited. To assess the resources, needs, and priorities in chronic disease prevention and control for fiscal year (FY) 1994, the Association of State and Territorial Chronic Disease Program Directors (ASTCDPD) conducted a national survey of state and territorial health agencies; this survey updates a similar survey that collected data for FY 1989. This report summarizes the survey findings for 1994 which indicate that, during 1989-1994, expenditures for state-specific chronic disease activities increased modestly but remained disproportionately low in relation to the public health burden of chronic diseases.