Welcome to VISION!

Purpose:

This dashboard illustrates chronic disease burden in Colorado. The data are organized around the 1-3-4-50 model utilized by the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention branch within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The Story that...



Those who live with chronic conditions are often blamed out of a belief that they have made poor choices or failed to exercise self control. These assumptions are harmful and miss the power that place has in shaping our choices, the resources available to us, and our opportunities to be healthy.


A review of Colorado's health and disease data show that geography, built environment and demographic factors are strongly associated with different outcomes - this is not random. These disparities emerge from policies and structural racism that differentiates the allocation of resources and opportunities necessary for achieving health.


Addressing the burden of chronic disease in Colorado starts with improving a community's access to nutritious foods, safe places to recreate, and receive care. By increasing opportunities for everyone to be healthy in the places where we live, learn, work, play, and age, we can reduce the prevalence of risk factors and of chronic diseases; lessen the stigma of living with them; and make a long, healthier life available to every Coloradan.


Accessibility statement and support: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/accessibility


Last updated: October 2025

Alcohol Use


Alcohol is a legal substance, but drinking alcohol excessively can increase the risk of serious injuries, unintended pregnancies, and some types of cancers. Preventing excessive alcohol use, including underage drinking, requires multi-faceted and upstream strategies that target the built environment and community norms.


This page describes experiences of alcohol use across communities.


Source: Excessive Alcohol Use Infographic - CDPHE

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Cancer Prevention


Differences in education, transportation, and environmental conditions help to explain why some communities are healthier than others. These differences can influence actions such as eating well, exercising, or drinking and smoking. These decisions are critical to long term health and preventing cancer.


This page describes experiences of cancer prevention across communities.


Source: World Health Organization

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Cancer Screening


To achieve better cancer outcomes, we must work together to remove barriers, to ensure that each of us can get screened on time for cancer screenings.


This page describes experiences of cancer screening across communities.


Source: Colorado Cancer Coalition

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Mental Health


Mental health is a vital part of our overall health; yet, too often, stigma further harms those who are already vulnerable to chronic mental conditions. Therefore, it is critical that we discuss mental health and wellness in all its forms, ensure people with chronic mental conditions feel seen and heard, and promote equitable mental health practices to reduce stigma and promote whole person health.


This page describes experiences of mental health across communities.


Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Nutrition


Eating nutritious foods contributes to a person's overall health and can reduce the risk of related chronic diseases. Access to healthy food is often influenced by several factors, including affordability, availability, food environment, and media/advertising. However, making sure everyone has access to healthy food is not equitably available to all.


This page describes experiences of nutrition across communities.


Source: CDC Nutrition Resources (Adults)

Source: CDC Nutrition Resources (Children)

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Oral Health: Access, Prevention, & Quality of Care


Access to quality preventive oral health care/services improves oral health outcomes and also contributes to positive health outcomes overall. Some of the factors contributing to oral health inequities include insurance status, cost, geographic region, and language and cultural variations.


This page describes experiences of oral health access, prevention, and quality of care across communities.


As Colorado's population becomes increasingly diverse in race, ethnicity, culture, and language, it is essential to recognize that current oral health systems are unable to meet the needs of all Coloradans.

Oral health services in schools protect from the harmful effects of tooth decay (e.g., cavities) by decreasing the barriers to accessing dental care, preventing missed school hours, and improving school readiness.

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Physical Activity


Physical activity helps you feel better, function better, and sleep better. It also reduces anxiety. Creating places where it is easy and safe for people to walk or bike helps increase physical activity and can make our communities better places to live. However, making sure everyone has access to environments that promote and support physical activity is not equitably available to all.


This page describes experiences of physical activity across communities.


Source: CDC Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Adults

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Tobacco Use


Every Coloradan should have equitable access to live a tobacco-free life. However, as the data illustrate below, the prevalence of tobacco product use varies across social groups and geography. There are many social, economic, and environmental factors that influence tobacco use prevalence and these are often compounded by predatory tobacco industry marketing strategies aimed at youth and young adults, people with low incomes, rural Coloradans, and communities of color. Check out the resources tab below to learn more.


This page describes experiences of tobacco use across communities.


Source: Tobacco Free CO

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

For a deeper look into this topic, consider the resources below:

Tobacco Use:

1. CDPHE: Smoking and Tobacco

2. Colorado Quitline

3. Tobacco Free Colorado

4. The Community Guide: Tobacco

Cardiovascular Health


Your heart health can be affected by family history, but it is also determined by lifestyle and behaviors including smoking, diet and nutrition, exercise, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol. Equitable strategies that improve access to healthy foods and support active living will be crucial to ensuring that all Coloradans can participate in these health behaviors.


This page describes experiences of heart health across communities.


Choosing healthy meals and snacks can help prevent heart disease and its complications

Source: American Heart Association, Understand Your Risks

Regular activity can help maintain a healthy weight and lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

Source: NACCHO Inclusive Physical Activity

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Diabetes


You can prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes with proven, achievable lifestyle changes such as losing a small amount of weight and getting more physically active, even if you are at high risk. If you are living with diabetes, these lifestyle changes can also help you manage your diabetes. In fact, research shows that even small behavior changes can lead to significant improvements to your health, allowing you to live a long and healthy life.


This page describes experiences of diabetes across communities.


Lifestyle classes can teach skills to help lose weight, eat better, and be more active.

Source: Lifestyle Change Program [Video]

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Older Adult Health


Colorado has one of the fastest growing populations in the nation with the 3rd highest rate of growth among older adults. Colorado’s state demographer projects that one in five Coloradans will be over the age of 65 by 2050. People of color currently make up 20% of the United States population age 65 and over. By 2050, they will make up nearly 42%, and Colorado is projected to see a similar change. As our communities age, it will be important to develop age-friendly, culturally appropriate public health systems that create the conditions at the state and community levels that enable older adults to live safely, healthfully, and productively.


This page describes experiences of healthcare access and outcomes across older adult communities.


Source: CDC: 6 Tips for Healthy Aging

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Oral Health Disparities and Outcomes


Good oral health is more than teeth without cavities — it is the foundation of the essential functions of chewing, swallowing, speaking, and smiling. Oral health is linked to pregnancy outcomes, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s; periodontal disease is linked to pneumonia and other respiratory complications. Cavities remain the number one chronic disease in children, with potential developmental, economic, and social ramifications.


This page describes experiences of oral health outcomes across communities.


Improving oral health outcomes starts with improving and increasing access to dental care and services.

Source: The Root of the Problem

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

For a deeper look into this topic, consider the resources below:

1. Tooth Be Told (Basic Screening System [BSS])

2. School-based Oral Health Programs

Respiratory Illness



This page describes experiences of respiratory illness across communities.


Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

For a deeper look into this topic, consider the resources below:

Suicide


The vast majority of people who experience suicidal despair do not go on to attempt or die by suicide.The CDC estimates that for every death by suicide, there are about 27 non-fatal suicide attempts and about 275 individuals who seriously consider suicide.


This page describes experiences of suicide across communities.


Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Weight Status


Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight includes eating healthy foods, daily physical activity, sleeping well, and managing stress. However, these behaviors are out of reach for many who live in places without access to healthy foods, safe places to move, or access to mental health services. More inclusive policies, systems, and environments are needed to ensure access to these resources.


This page describes experiences of weight status across communities.


Source: Change Lab Solutions

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

For a deeper look into this topic, consider the resources below:

1. CDPHE Healthy Eating & Active Living Webpage

2. CDC Healthy Weight, Nutrition and Physical Activity

Additional Metrics


The intent is to properly contextualize each metric within this dashboard. Additional context and information is currently being gathered for each metric within this page. Check back in to see the progress!


This page describes experiences of marijuana use, sleep, and caregivers across communities.


Source: What is Health Equity? [Video]

Dive into the Data:

Select a Community

Select a Health Measure

Colorado Estimate:

Metric Interpretation Guide:

All metrics are calculated based on experiences within the selected community. Insert your selections into the following sentence for an interpretation guide:

Among those who are [insert selected community], X% have [insert health measure].

💡 Tip: Use the search bar to find a specific county, year, or demographic group.

Data Source Information

Information for all of the metrics in this dashboard will be organized by source at links below. As more data are added, check back here for the details!


1. Colorado Behavioral Risk Factor and Surveillance System (BRFSS)