SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced the Illinois Department of Public Health has been awarded nearly $1.5 million in federal funds to prevent and control heart disease and stroke in Illinois, and lead the six-state Great Lakes Region in establishing a stroke network.

"Heart disease and stroke are, respectively, the first and third leading causes of death and also the major causes of disability," Dr. Whitaker said. "These resources will be used on initiatives designed to reduce the burden of heart disease and stroke and improve the quality of lives of Illinois citizens."

In 2002, there were 30,713 deaths in Illinois due to heart disease and 7,171 deaths due to stroke. The total number of deaths from all causes during the year was 106,211.

• The Department's grant includes three components: Heart Disease and Stroke Program (HDSP), $300,000. The program will work to define the burden of cardiovascular disease in Illinois and finalize a state cardiovascular plan.
• Great Lakes Regional Stroke Network, $297,300. Illinois will lead the Great Lakes Regional Stroke Network, which also includes Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The purpose of the network is to increase stroke awareness and enhance the role of public health to address stroke prevention and quality of care. Networks include public health and medical professionals, policy makers and community health advocates. The Great Lakes Network is one of the three networks (Delta States led by Alabama and Tri-States led by North Carolina) to receive this funding.
• Paul Coverdell Stroke Registry, $892,900. Illinois is one of four states (Georgia, North Carolina and Massachusetts) to receive this registry funding. The data collected will be used to measure quality of care for acute stroke patients and implement improvement strategies that focus on policy, systems change and professional education to improve treatment. The Department and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago will collaborate to implement the registry.

The Department and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago will collaborate to implement the registry. The Department has received competitive grant funds from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 2000 to support a state heart disease and stroke prevention program.

CDC currently funds health departments in 32 states and the District of Columbia to develop effective strategies to reduce the burden of heart disease and stroke and related risk factors with an emphasis on heart healthy policies and physical and social environmental changes. Through these state-based programs, CDC aims to reduce disparities in treatment, risk factors and disease; delay the onset of disease; postpone death from cardiovascular disease; and reduce disabling conditions.