[Actively offering the evaluation and containment of cardiovascular risks (CCM Project, 2009]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Cardiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading global cause of death, posing significant public health challenges.
• The Regional Centre for disease prevention and Control of Veneto Region (CCMR-Vermont) developed a structured screening model.
• The model mirrors cancer screening protocols, involving active recall and targeted interventions for healthy individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a structured screening model for cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults aged 45-59.
• To assess the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles and identify new cases of hyperglycemia and hypertension within the target population.
• To determine the effectiveness of the model in promoting lifestyle changes and improving health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 17,000 individuals aged 45-59 were invited to participate.
• Participants underwent pre-evaluation by a general practitioner, followed by assessments by a health assistant.
• Assessments included anthropometric measurements, blood pressure screening, fasting blood glucose tests, and lifestyle evaluations.

Main Results:

• A 61% adhesion rate was observed among invited subjects.
• 56.5% exhibited unhealthy lifestyles with normal blood values; 14% were newly diagnosed with hyperglycemia and/or hypertension.
• 24% maintained healthy lifestyles with normal blood values.
• Prevalent unhealthy lifestyle factors included sedentary behavior (31.3%), smoking (20%), and overweight (50%).

Conclusions:

• The proposed screening model demonstrates promise in identifying cardiovascular disease risk factors.
• The model effectively targets individuals with unhealthy lifestyles for intervention and follow-up.
• Integrating structured screening with preventive strategies can enhance public health outcomes for cardiovascular diseases.