title: Targeting improvements in asthma morbidity in Chicago: a 10-year retrospective of community action.
abstract: Chicago has been described as "asthma ground zero" due to its disproportionately high rates of asthma-related hospitalization and mortality. Asthma prevalence rates in Chicago are higher for whites and African Americans than the national average. In an effort to address the asthma burden and disparities in Chicago, multiple initiatives throughout the city have been launched and continue due largely to the support of the Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute. The purpose of this article is to describe the policy, advocacy, educational, surveillance, research, quality improvement, community, and consortia activities over the past 10 years and their impact on asthma morbidity and disparities in Chicago.
authors.affiliation: Parkland Health and Hospital System, Administration Suite, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75214, USA. jshann@parknet.pmh.org
authors.forename: John Jay
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: Catherine D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Catrambone
authors.forename: Lenore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coover
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D003154:Community Medicine; D019058:Community Networks; D003256:Community Participation; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006302:Health Services Research; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires