Introduction: Coronary and cerebrovascular diseases accounts for a large part of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for which WHO pursues the reduction of premature mortality. In Italy, the Italian Ministry of Health - CCM has supported and financed periodic cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk assessment in the general adult population through national health examination surveys (HESs) conducted within the CUORE Project. A new survey started in 2023 and is still ongoing, promoted and financed by the Ministry of Health – CCM and the European Commission through JACARDI. Hypothesis: The aim of assessment is the monitoring of the cardiovascular risk distribution in the Italian general population. Methods: In the period 2023-2025, the 10-year fatal and non-fatal CVD risk assessment within a new HES was implemented considering the following individual data: sex, age, smoking habit, measured systolic blood pressure and fasting total and HDL serum cholesterol, and presence of diabetes (on measured fasting serum glycemia and/or treatment) and anti-hypertensive therapy. Up to now, data from random samples of residents in 17 Regions (out of 20 regions) distributed in North, Centre and South of Italy are available (1468 men, 1507 women - aged 35-69 years without previous CVD). Determinations were assayed by a central lab. CUORE Project functions developed on and for the Italian adults were used. Statistics were standardized by Italian 2024 age-sex distribution. Results: Mean values of the CVD risk assessment resulted 7.5% (95% confidence interval: 7.1-8.0) in men and 2.5% (2.3-2.7) in women. For men aged 35-44 years risk was 1.6% (1.5-1.7), for 45-54 years 3.9% (3.7-4.2), for 55-64 years 9.3% (8.8-9.9), for 65-69 years 16.5% (15.5-17.5); for women was 0.4% (0.4-0.5), 1.1% (1.0-1.2), 3.0% (2.7-3.2) and 5.7 % (5.3-6.2) respectively. Prevalence of CVD risk less than 5% was 51% (46-56) in men and 86% (82 -89) in women, of 5-10% risk were 23% (19-27) of men and 12% (9-15) of women, of 10-15% risk were 20% (16-24) of men and 2 % of women (1-4), of over 15% risk were 7% (4-10) of men and 0 % of women (0-0). Conclusions: These preliminary data showed stable mean levels of CVD risk both in men and women at any age-classes and stable prevalence of CVD risk classes compared to 2008 HES data. In primary prevention, CVD risk perception represents a challenge especially for young age groups and women.
Donfrancesco et al. (Tue,) studied this question.