[Demography and public health: the complexity of interventions in women]

Some considerations on age distribution of the Italian population, in particular women, are reported; after 40, they are the majority. Problems of ageing and their quality of life constitute a large interest of future research. Cardiovascular diseases are more frequent with ageing for both, males and females; the differences, found in middle age males and females, suggest the possible protective role of feminine sexual hormones. Trials, which include hormone replacement therapy in women after menopause, are conducted for the possible influence on cardiovascular diseases, on osteoporosis and on thrombogenic factors.