Chronic diseases account for three-quarters of the U.S. health care expenditures and a majority of early deaths and loss of productive years of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic disease accounts for approximately 75 percent of the nation’s aggregate health care spending – or an estimated $5,300 per person in the U.S. each year (https://www.chronicdisease.org). Health disparities exist among the common chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, with ethnic minorities and the poor having higher incidence or worse outcomes. Strategies to eliminate these disparities in chronic diseases need to be multidisciplinary and focus on increasing access to all aspects of health care, including prevention.
Role of AAD
This program responds to the need for more robust, ecological approaches to address chronic diseases among racial and ethnic minority groups, vulnerable, under-served populations, people of less privileged socio-economic status, along with groups subject to discrimination who have poorer health outcomes often attributed to being socially disadvantaged. Where people live, work, and play has a significant impact on the development and progress of chronic diseases and conditions. Using community-based and participatory approaches, AAD offers this chronic disease education outreach program that uses speakers series to discuss and educate minority populations on the impact of health disparities on chronic diseases and empower them for action to address these disparities in their respective communities and neighborhoods.