Should Leading Causes Be Leading Solutions? Integrating Chronic Disease Surveillance into Data Modernization Efforts

In this paper, we explore strengths and gaps in chronic disease surveillance capacity in the United States. Then we consider similarities and differences between chronic and infectious disease surveillance needs and approaches. Finally, we make the case for working towards a more comprehensive and integrated approach to data modernization that prioritizes the leading causes of death, disability, and differences in health outcomes in our communities, regardless of etiology, to build a public health surveillance ecosystem that can provide the timely, representative, and local data required to develop responsive and effective health policies and community-based interventions.