Abstract Body: Introduction: The reduction of non-communicable diseases premature mortality is pursued by the WHO; risk conditions targets are recommended as well as population-level monitoring of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The Italian Ministry of Health (MoH) has strengthened prevention/health promotion and supported periodic CVD risk assessment through national health examination surveys (HESs), technically and financially supported by the Ministry of Health - National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and conducted within the CUORE Project.
Hypothesis: The aim of assessment is the monitoring of the cardiovascular risk distribution in the Italian general population.
Methods: In 2023 a new HES started including the 10-year fatal and non-fatal CVD risk assessment based on the knowledge of 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 12 Regions (of 20 regions) distributed in North, Centre and South of Italy, aged 35-69 years, without previous CVD, are available (1029 men, 1064 women). Determinations were assayed by a central lab. CUORE Project functions developed on and for the Italian adults were used.
Results: Mean values of the CVD risk assessment resulted 6.7% (95% CI: 6.3-7.1) in men and 2.2% (2.1-2.4) in women. For men aged 35-44 years risk was 1.6% (1.5-1.7), for 45-54 years 3.9% (3.6-4.2), for 55-64 years 9.3% (8.7-10.0), for 65-69 years 17.1% (16.1-18.1); for women was 0.4% (0.4-0.5), 1.1% (1.0-1.2), 3.1% (2.8-3.4) and 5.8% (5.4-6.2) respectively. Prevalence of CVD risk less than 5% was 56% (50-62) in men and 88% (85-92) in women, of 5-10% risk were 23% (19-28) of men and 10% (6-13) of women, of 10-15% risk were 4% (2-7) of men and 0% of women, of over 15% risk were 1% (0-2.5) of men and 0% of women.
Conclusions: Compared to 2008, these data showed stable mean levels of CVD risk both in men and women at any age-classes and stable prevalence of CVD risk classes. CVD risk perception represents a challenge in primary prevention especially for young age groups and women.