Document Detail


Cardiovascular risk factors in Italy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10641828     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In the 1950s the Italian population was known for its low mean levels of major cardiovascular risk factors and serum cholesterol in particular. A definite increase of those mean levels was associated, in the next 2 decades, with increasing death rates from cardiovascular diseases and coronary heart disease. Between the late 1970s and early 1990s cardiovascular death rates declined by over 40%. Large population surveys showed, between 1978 and 1987, small decreases in the mean levels of blood pressure (in both sexes), of smoking habits (in men), and of body weight (in women), while serum cholesterol remained stable. These changes mathematically explained about two-thirds of the observed decline in cardiovascular mortality among middle-aged people. In the late 1980s and early 1990s scattered population studies suggested a decline in mean population levels of serum cholesterol, at least in some areas of the country. More coordinated or systematic preventive campaigns were organized by the public health authorities. On the other hand activities of many small private organizations dealing with heart health likely explain the spread of knowledge, attitude, and practice in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Food industry started to produce low-fat products and to label foods with nutrition facts. Changes in food consumption in the beneficial direction started to be recorded in the late 1980s. The spread of antihypertensive treatment was partly favored by the National Health Service offering anti-hypertensive drugs at relatively low cost. Government regulations have more and more restricted the public areas where smoking is allowed. An increasing interest for prevention on the part of physicians is a recent issue, mainly bound to the success of some major controlled trials of hypocholesterolemic drugs.
Authors:
A Menotti
Related Documents :
20453198 - Identifying potential synergies and trade-offs for meeting food security and climate ch...
17917918 - Biodiesel: production and economic issues.
20141648 - The spatial distribution of campylobacteriosis in new zealand, 1997-2005.
16040698 - Global consequences of land use.
20169828 - Mediterranean lifestyle: nutritional education on-line.
1788148 - Amylin decreases food intake in mice.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Preventive medicine     Volume:  29     ISSN:  0091-7435     ISO Abbreviation:  Prev Med     Publication Date:  1999 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-03-03     Completed Date:  2000-03-03     Revised Date:  2005-11-16    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0322116     Medline TA:  Prev Med     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  S111-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Cardioricerca, Associazione per la Ricerca Cardiologica, Rome, Italy. alessandro.menotti@iol.it
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality*,  prevention & control*
Cholesterol / blood
Humans
Italy / epidemiology
Risk Factors
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
57-88-5/Cholesterol

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease risk in The Netherlands.
Next Document:  Primordial prevention of coronary heart disease in India: challenges and opportunities.