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[Epidemiology and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in women]
1Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in Italian women, particularly over age 75. While incidence is lower than in men, women experience higher fatality rates from CVD events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent a significant cause of mortality in Italy, accounting for 50% of all deaths.
- Recent data indicate that cardiovascular events predominantly occur in individuals over 75 years of age.
- Existing research highlights a disparity in CVD mortality rates between genders, with women aged 0-74 exhibiting lower rates than men.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report Italian epidemiological data on the frequency and characteristics of cardiovascular diseases in women.
- To compare cardiovascular disease incidence and fatality rates between women and men in specific Italian regions.
- To review known cardiovascular risk factors in women, referencing both Italian and international studies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Italian national statistics (ISTAT, 1987) on causes of death.
- Utilization of data from the MONICA register (Area Latina) for coronary and cerebrovascular events.
- Inclusion of incidence rate data for definite coronary events in women aged 40-69 from population samples.
Main Results:
- Diseases of the circulatory system account for 50% of all deaths in Italy.
- Cardiovascular events are more prevalent in individuals over 75 years.
- Mortality rates for cardiovascular diseases (age 0-74) are lower in women than in men.
- Coronary and cerebrovascular events are less common in women than men (ratios of 3:1 and 3:2, respectively).
- The fatality rate for cardiovascular events is higher in women compared to men.
- The incidence rate of definite coronary events in women aged 40-69 is 2.2 per 1000 person-years.
Conclusions:
- While women exhibit lower incidence rates of cardiovascular diseases compared to men, they face higher fatality rates.
- Cardiovascular disease remains a critical public health concern for women in Italy.
- Further research into cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes and obesity, is warranted for the female population.
Abstract:
Some Italian data on frequencies of cardiovascular diseases in women are reported. Recent data, published by ISTAT (1987), record that diseases of the circulatory system represent 50% of all deaths and cardiovascular events happen over 75. Mortality rates for cardiovascular diseases, aged 0-74, are lower than in men of the same age group. Coronary and cerebrovascular events recorded by the MONICA register in the Area Latina are lower in women than in men with a ratio of 3:1 and 3:2 respectively. Fatality rate is higher in women than in men. Incidence rate of definite coronary events assessed by population samples is 2.2 per 1000 per year in women aged 40-69. On cardiovascular risk factors few Italian data are published. Some data from American studies reported for women the prediction of risk factors, such as serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and smoking habit; an independent role is played by diabetes and obesity.