More than two million Connecticut residents - or 57% of the total population - suffer from one or more chronic diseases such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The Connecticut Department of Public Health Chronic Disease Programs work collaboratively with partners to bring about a future where healthy choices are easy choices, high-quality prevention-oriented health care is widely accessible and high quality community-based prevention programs link closely with clinical systems.

For more information on the Connecticut Department of Public Health Chronic Disease Programs, please visit the program-specific web pages.

Connecticut Department of Public Health Chronic Disease Web Pages

• Asthma
• Comprehensive Cancer
• Diabetes Prevention and Control
• Genomics
• Health Disparities
• Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
• Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Program
• Office of Health Equity
• Oral Health
• Tobacco 

Coordinated Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Plan

In April 2014, the Connecticut Department of Public Health completed the coordinated chronic disease prevention and health promotion plan - Live Healthy Connecticut. The plan aims to elevate policy and systems change approaches which are likely to have the broadest and longest lasting impact. Live Healthy Connecticut places a premium on achieving health equity -a core component of the Department’s mission. Finally the plan emphasizes the critical role of partners and acknowledges the goals set forth in this plan can only be achieved through working collaboratively.

Full version of  Live Healthy Connecticut (2014)

View the launch of Live Healthy Connecticut (May 28, 2014).

View Live Healthy Connecticut indicators and data.

Connecticut Chronic Disease Policy Scan

The Connecticut Chronic Disease Policy Scan Database (2014) holds information gathered on active Connecticut state statutes related to chronic disease. A review of the chronic disease related policies was conducted in 12 different areas, with a particular focus on social determinants of health and vulnerable populations. Inclusion criteria for the policies was based on Connecticut Department of Public Health's (DPH) chronic disease prevention and health promotion plan Live Healthy Connecticut. Information found in the Connecticut Chronic Disease Policy Scan Database can be used as baseline data on chronic disease related policies in the state. For more information, see The Policy Scan in 10 Steps (2014).

Health Disparities Information

Financial Impact of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in Connecticut - This analysis quantifies the economic impact of racial and ethnic health disparities using hospital charge data after adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics (2014 data). (December 2018)

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Hospital Charges in Connecticut: Data Update - This data brief updates Quantifying the Potential Economic Benefits of Health Equity in Connecticut: Disparities in Hospital Charges and Costs among Blacks and Hispanics compared to Whites, 2005-2012, a poster presented at the Keeneland Conference in Lexington, Kentucky on April 21, 2015. (September 2016)

Estimating Total Excess Hospital Charges Due to Race and Ethnicity in Connecticut - This summary describes an analysis conducted to quantify the disparity in hospital charges among non-Hispanic Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino Connecticut residents compared with non-Hispanic White residents. (July 2016)

Quantifying the Potential Economic Benefits of Health Equity in Connecticut: Disparities in Hospital Charges and Costs among Blacks and Hispanics compared to Whites, 2005-2012 - This poster was presented at the Keeneland Conference in Lexington, KY on April 21, 2015.

The Cost of Disparity Analysis for Connecticut - These slides describe the disparity in hospital charges among racial and ethnic groups in Connecticut. (April 2014)

Other Resources and Documents

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) and Health Care Utilization Analysis - Summary of an analysis using data from the Connecticut All Payers Claims Database (APCD)  to examine healthcare utilization patterns (i.e., inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department visits and filling prescriptions) of commercially insured patients with diabetes prior to receiving DSMES and after receiving DSMES.

Self-Blood Pressure Monitoring (SBPM) Toolbox - This SBPM toolbox is the result of a pilot project that established a SBPM program at two community health clinics in Connecticut.  This team-based care intervention provides support and close follow-up by specially trained Nurse Care Coordinators who work with patients individually to teach them how to monitor their own blood pressure, set self-management goals and develop action plans. They assist patients to attain blood pressure control more rapidly and effectively than they otherwise would have.

So...Do I have prediabetes? - According to the CDC, more than one in three American adults have prediabetes and are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  However, nearly 90 percent of people with prediabetes do not even know that they have it.  The CDC launched the Ad Council’s prediabetes awareness campaign in January 2016.  This is the first-ever national public service campaign to raise awareness about prediabetes on TV, radio, print, and digital channels.

Overweight and Obesity among Kindergarten and Third Grade Children in Connecticut - In 2017, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Office of Oral Health conducted Every Smile Counts, a statewide oral health survey among public schools with twenty-five (25) or more students in kindergarten and/or third grade. As part of this survey, more than 4,400 children received dental screenings and BMI measurements in twenty-five (25) districts. This report presents the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Connecticut kindergarten and third grade students as estimated from Every Smile Counts. (December 2017)

Million Hearts Medication Therapy Management Stakeholder Workshop Issue Brief - On June 11, 2015 the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy with support from the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, conducted a Million Hearts® workshop with Connecticut stakeholders (pharmacists, employers, payers, clinical providers/representatives, organized medical groups, hospital representatives, and community public health representatives) to discuss the role of Medication Therapy Management (MTM) in addressing heart disease and stroke, Connecticut’s leading causes of death and disability.  This issue brief summarizes the discussions of the workshop. (October 2015)

Flu and Chronic Conditions - Influenza (flu) is a contagious and potentially deadly virus that can result in serious complications for individuals living with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, even when chronic conditions are well-controlled.  The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has free downloadable resources for healthcare professionals and patients with chronic health conditions about the importance of annual flu vaccination.

Partners' Links

American Diabetes Association

American Heart Association

American Lung Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion

Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition

Connecticut Cancer Partnership

Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Connecticut Department of Social Services

Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut

Contact Information