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Chronic diseases account for the majority of mortality, morbidity, and disability in the United States. More than 15 percent of the adult population suffers from a chronic disabling condition, such as arthritis, heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes. Direct health care costs for people with chronic conditions account for 75 percent of the total national expenditure for health care. Behaviors that lead to many chronic diseases, such as smoking, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and alcohol use, account for approximately 800,000 deaths in the United States annually. In Florida, almost one of every three deaths was due to heart disease and almost one of every four deaths was due to cancer in 2002. The prolonged course of illness and disability from chronic diseases results in extended pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life for thousands of Floridians and their families.
The Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Evaluation section in the Bureau of Epidemiology plays very important roles in monitoring and evaluating chronic disease conditions among Floridians through several population-based surveillance systems:
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a rolling telephone survey of Florida adults on a wide range of health issues including, but not limited to: physical activity, diet, tobacco and alcohol use, HIV/AIDS, asthma, diabetes, and cancer screenings. This survey has been conducted annually since 1986 in Florida. Data from this survey have been used for health planning, program evaluation, and monitoring health objectives in Florida.
Florida's Statewide Cancer Registry has been fully operational since 1981 to collect accurate, complete, and timely data from all facilities and practitioners diagnosing and treating cancer. Cancer registry data are made available for public and research uses to better understand the disease and to reduce the morbidity and mortality.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Surveillance project is an epidemiological assessment to determine the overall prevalence of Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis within Florida by identifying the affected population's
demographics and assessing the role of genetic and/or environmental factors in
the development of these illnesses. This research is mandated by the "Crohn's and Colitis Disease Research Act" which began in July 2005 and will conclude February 2006.
Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS) is a self-administrated, confidential, school-based questionnaire survey of Florida public middle and high school students annually starting from 1998. The purpose of FYTS is to monitor and evaluate progress of Florida's tobacco control program. The data collected in this survey include the following subject areas: tobacco usage, tobacco use prevention education in school, students' thoughts about tobacco use, influence of anti-tobacco media and influence from tobacco companies, second-hand smoke exposure, and perceptions of tobacco laws among youth.
Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is an ongoing, random questionnaire survey, followed up by a phone interview if no response from questionnaire, of mothers of Florida newborns. This survey has been conducted annually since 1993 in Florida. It is designed to provide information about risk factors for adverse health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy for mother and newborn.
Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a self-administrated, confidential, school-based questionnaire survey of Florida public high school students every odd-numbered year since 1991. Since 2001, the increased response rates have facilitated analyses of the YRBS data to produce state level prevalence. Six areas are targeted in this survey: unintentional injuries and violence, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors, dietary behaviors, and physical activity.
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