Use of a Cross-Sectional Survey in the Adult Population to Characterize Persons at High-Risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Unlabelled: Rationale/Objective: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) health survey has been used to describe the epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the US. Through addressing respiratory symptoms and tobacco use, it could also be used to characterize COPD risk.

Methods: Four US states added questions to the 2015 BRFSS regarding productive cough, shortness of breath, dyspnea on exertion, and tobacco duration.

Targeting Persons With or At High Risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by State-based Surveillance.

Unlabelled: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey is used to estimate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence and could be expanded to describe respiratory symptoms in the general population and to characterize persons with or at high risk for the disease. Tobacco duration and respiratory symptom questions were added to the 2012 South Carolina BRFSS. Data concerning sociodemographics, chronic illnesses, health behaviors, and respiratory symptoms were collected in 9438 adults ≥ 35 years-old.

Defining emergency department asthma visits for public health surveillance, North Carolina, 2008-2009.

Introduction: When using emergency department (ED) data sets for public health surveillance, a standard approach is needed to define visits attributable to asthma. Asthma can be the first (primary) or a subsequent (2nd through 11th) diagnosis. Our study objective was to develop a definition of ED visits attributable to asthma for public health surveillance.

The prevalence, characteristics, and impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in North Carolina.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. We describe the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of COPD in North Carolina.

Methods: We determined the prevalence of self-reported COPD and characteristics of affected persons using data from the 2009 North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey.

Emergency department visits attributable to asthma in North Carolina, 2008.

Background: Asthma is a prevalent, morbid, and costly chronic condition that may result in preventable exacerbations requiring emergency department (ED) care. In North Carolina we have limited information about the frequency and characteristics of asthma-related ED visits.

Methods: We estimated statewide population-based asthma-related ED visit rates in North Carolina, both overall and by age, sex, geography, insurance, and season.

Health-related quality of life and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in North Carolina.

Background: Comparisons of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adults in the general population are not well described.

Aims: To examine associations between COPD and four measures of HRQOL in a population-based sample. PATIENTS #ENTITYSTARTX00026;

Methods: These relationships were examined using data from 13,887 adults aged >18 years who participated in the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) conducted in North Carolina (NC).

Ensuring a scientific basis for community interventions for asthma.

Community based interventions are an important part of public health management of many diseases, including asthma. However, there are few scientifically proven and readily available community interventions for asthma. In an effort to increase the number of available interventions, we have identified ongoing asthma intervention research, identified potentially effective asthma interventions based on completed research, and prepared several of the effective interventions for widespread implementation through a process called "translation.