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[Epidemiology of vascular diseases in Italy]
Insights
Cardiovascular diseases are Italy's leading cause of death. While cardiac deaths decreased, vascular disease mortality increased, keeping overall cardiovascular disease mortality constant from 1965-1983.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular epidemiology
- Public health analysis
- Italian mortality statistics
Context:
- Analysis of cardiovascular disease mortality in Italy for 1975.
- Examination of trends from 1965-1983, differentiating cardiac and vascular causes.
- Inclusion of age-specific and sex-specific mortality quotients for 1970-1979.
Purpose:
- To analyze cardiovascular disease mortality rates in Italy and its regions.
- To differentiate between cardiac and vascular disease incidence.
- To assess mortality trends over time and by demographic factors.
Summary:
- Cardiovascular diseases identified as the primary cause of death in Italy, with circulatory diseases ranking second.
- Encephalic circulation diseases were the most frequent among circulatory diseases.
- Overall cardiovascular disease mortality remained stable between 1965-1983 due to offsetting trends in cardiac and vascular deaths.
Impact:
- Provides a detailed epidemiological overview of cardiovascular mortality in Italy.
- Highlights the significant burden of vascular diseases, particularly those affecting cerebral circulation.
- Informs public health strategies by detailing mortality trends and regional variations.
Abstract:
The mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases was analysed for Italy as a whole and for individual regions in a sample year (1975). A distinction was made between cardiac and vascular diseases in order to assess the real incidence of the latter. The absolute number of deaths, the percentage mortality and the specific mortality quotient were studied. Deaths were also divided into age groups. Cardiovascular diseases were found to be the primary cause of death, circulatory disease the second. Among the latter, diseases of the encephalic circulation took first place. The same parameters were applied to the 1965-1983 period. Mortality due to cardiovascular disease remained constant over the period since the decrease in deaths from cardiac conditions was offset by an increase in those due to vascular disease in the strict sense. Finally the specific standardised mortality quotients per age and sex were considered in the 1970-1979 period. Mortality trends in Italy and in the individual regions were identical to those described using non-standardised indices.