CDC Announces the Formation of the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

January, 2006

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the new Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP). The establishment of the division represents the will of Congress and concerned partners throughout the nation. In 1998, the U.S. Congress appropriated funding for CDC to launch a nationwide effort to help states develop the capacity, commitment and resources for a comprehensive program to prevent death and disability from heart disease and stroke and improve Americans' cardiovascular health. In fiscal year (FY) 2005, Congress appropriated approximately $45 million for CDC's program to fight the nation’s first and third leading causes of death and major causes of disability.

The DHDSP will continue to collaborate with national public and private sector partners to plan, direct, and coordinate programs and research to prevent risk factors, reduce morbidity, mortality, disability, costs and disparities associated with heart disease and stroke.

“In addition to high blood pressure and high cholesterol, several other factors—diabetes, tobacco use, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and overweight/obesity—all contribute to developing heart disease and stroke. These diseases and health issues are primary areas of focus in our Center. The elevation of heart disease and stroke to the division level is key to our fully addressing chronic disease,“ according to Dr. Janet Collins, director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC.

During the past 8 years, CDC staff have taken part in developing and implementing many successful public health programs, including—

• Funding state level heart disease and stroke prevention programs to date in 32 states and the District of Columbia (see more about our state program efforts);
• Establishing the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry to measure and improve hospital delivery of emergency care for stroke victims;
• Conducting geographic analysis of heart disease and stroke morbidity and mortality at the county level;
• Initiating significant new prevention research studies especially in areas related to state programs; and
• Continuing the WISEWOMAN program that provides cardiovascular screening and intervention services for low–income, under/uninsured women who participate in breast and cervical cancer screenings.

Since 2002, staff of the division have assumed a lead role in implementing A Public Health Action Plan to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke. The Action Plan has provided the framework of the division's strategy for meeting the overarching goals of Healthy People 2010, which are to increase quality and years of healthy life and to eliminate health disparities. The Action Plan's framework for developing a health care system that equally supports treatment and prevention will continue to be used as the division’s primary guidance document.

“Prevention remains key to reducing the risk of heart disease. Once developed, heart disease cannot be cured—at best, it can only be managed. The staff of the division has worked together diligently, with the support of key partners, public health policymakers, and heart disease and stroke prevention experts, for several years to build capacity. The new division will enable us to accelerate our efforts for heart disease and stroke prevention and elimination of the racial/ethnic, geographic, economic and gender disparities often faced by those with these diseases” said Dr. Darwin Labarthe, acting director for DHDSP.

The DHDSP will continue to provide leadership for the CVH Collaboration. Initiated in 2000, the collaboration brings together CDC components with activities that contribute most directly to heart disease and stroke prevention. The collaboration includes programs in Division of Adult and Community Health, the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Office on Smoking and Health, Division of Diabetes Translation, the Division of Adolescent and School Health and the Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention. The National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disorders addresses related blood conditions, and the National Center for Environmental Health carries out laboratory–based activities relevant to heart disease and stroke.

Visit the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention for more information.

Page last reviewed: November 8, 2007
Page last modified: November 8, 2007

Content source: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion