US Public Health Response to COVID-19 and Chronic Disease: Continuing the Commitment to Improve Population Health
Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) remains committed to its mission of promoting dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policy makers worldwide on the integration of evaluation, research, and practical experience to improve population health. Publishing articles on critical topics related to chronic disease is one of the ways the journal fulfills that mission, disseminating proven and promising findings, innovations, and practices.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), represents the greatest medical and public health challenge in decades. As a result, medical professionals and public health experts, as well as the general public, are all scrambling to understand and respond to this crisis. We are learning that the effects of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of individuals is greater among those living with underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic lung disease. Emerging data also indicate that racial and ethnic groups are at an increased risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19. Persistent social determinants further compound the negative effects that COVID-19 has on people with a chronic condition. Examples of social determinants of health that have brought to light these disparities in health outcomes include unstable housing, limited access to nutritious food, inadequate transportation, and low socioeconomic status.
PCD has recently received an influx of manuscripts related to COVID-19. In addition to expediting peer review of these manuscripts, PCD put together a special supplement consisting of 16 commentaries generated by individuals working on the front lines of the pandemic. They share expertise on the bidirectional relationship between chronic disease and COVID-19, its impact on population health in the United States and around the world, and early thinking on emerging public health approaches to address COVID-19 and chronic disease. These authors represent an impressive mix of expertise in public health, medicine, infectious disease, health disparities, health equity, community engagement, community organization, nursing, pharmacy, oral public health, health communication, health system change, environmental health, geographic information system, geospatial analyses, and more.
We hope this special supplement contributes to ongoing efforts during this pandemic to provide reliable, peer-reviewed research and proven practices to improve health outcomes worldwide for both COVID-19 and chronic disease. The topics featured below represent areas in which future submissions would be of great interest to the journal, and PCD will continue to release timely peer-reviewed articles on COVID-19 as new information comes available.
Leonard Jack, Jr, PhD, MSc
Editor in Chief, Preventing Chronic Disease
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Engaging With Communities — Lessons (Re)Learned From COVID-19
Michener L, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Alberti PM, Castaneda MJ, Castrucci BC, Harrison LM, et al. Engaging With Communities — Lessons (Re)Learned From COVID-19. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200250.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Griffith DM, Sharma G, Holliday CS, Enyia OK, Valliere M, Semlow AR, et al. Men and COVID-19: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Understanding Sex Differences in Mortality and Recommendations for Practice and Policy Interventions. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200247.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Evans AC, Bufka LF. The Critical Need for a Population Health Approach: Addressing the Nation’s Behavioral Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200261.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Culture Matters in Communicating the Global Response to COVID-19
Airhihenbuwa C, Iwelunmor J, Munodawafa D, Ford C, Oni T, Agyemang C, et al. Culture Matters in Communicating the Global Response to COVID-19. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200245.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Incorporating Geographic Information Science and Technology in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Smith CD, Mennis J. Incorporating Geographic Information Science and Technology in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200246.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Slater SJ, Christiana RW, Gustat J. Recommendations for Keeping Parks and Green Space Accessible for Mental and Physical Health During COVID-19 and Other Pandemics. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200204.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Calise TV, Fox A, Ryder A, Ruggiero LR. Overcoming Challenges Resulting From COVID-19: New York State’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Initiative. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200232.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Reaching the Hispanic Community About COVID-19 Through Existing Chronic Disease Prevention Programs
Calo WA, Murray A, Francis E, Bermudez M, Kraschnewski J. Reaching the Hispanic Community About COVID-19 Through Existing Chronic Disease Prevention Programs. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200165.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Henry Akintobi T, Jacobs T, Sabbs D, Holden K, Braithwaite R, Johnson LN, et al. Community Engagement of African Americans in the Era of COVID-19: Considerations, Challenges, Implications, and Recommendations for Public Health. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200255.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
The Role of Public Health in COVID-19 Emergency Response Efforts From a Rural Health Perspective
Melvin SC, Wiggins C, Burse N, Thompson E, Monger M. The Role of Public Health in COVID-19 Emergency Response Efforts From a Rural Health Perspective. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200256.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
The Influence of Telehealth for Better Health Across Communities
McElroy JA, Day TM, Becevic M. The Influence of Telehealth for Better Health Across Communities. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200254.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Community Pharmacists’ Contributions to Disease Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Strand MA, Bratberg J, Eukel H, Hardy M, Williams C. Community Pharmacists’ Contributions to Disease Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200317.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Como M, Carter CW, Larose-Pierre M, O’Dare K, Hall CR, Mobley J, et al. Pharmacist-Led Chronic Care Management for Medically Underserved Rural Populations in Florida During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200265.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Oral Health and COVID-19: Increasing the Need for Prevention and Access
Brian Z, Weintraub JA. Oral Health and COVID-19: Increasing the Need for Prevention and Access. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200266.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
Preparing Students for a More Public Health–Aware Market in Response to COVID-19
Brisolara KF, Smith DG. Preparing Students for a More Public Health–Aware Market in Response to COVID-19. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200251.
COMMENTARY
PEER REVIEWED
The COVID-19 Response in Nebraska: How Students Answered the Call
Chengane S, Cheney A, Garth S, Medcalf S. The COVID-19 Response in Nebraska: How Students Answered the Call. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:200269.
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.
