During the last 20 years the Progetto Cuore have been characterized
by long term longitudinal studies which collected data coming from a
huge proportion of general population that has been followed-up during
time for cause-specific mortality and for fatal and non-fatal
cardiovascular events). In the longitudinal studies also
biological
samples have been collected at baseline and are stored in the
biological bank of the National Institute of Health.
In particular, the Progetto Cuore longitudinal studies are
characterized by:
- the implementation of a database containing risk factors, high
risk conditions and lifestyle. All studies adopted the same
standardized procedures of data collection, or similar and
comparable, methodologies.
- the collection and storage of biological samples include
serum, plasma, buffy coat, packed red blood cells and urine
specimens
- the periodic updating of the follow-up for cause-specific
mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in order to estimate the
cardiovascular risk in the Italian adult population specifically
for men and women.
The Progetto CUORE cohorts, men and women, aged 20-80 years
Follow-up of cause-specific mortality is undergoing for updating up
to 2016
The additional benefit of this study compared to similar studies
carried out in Italy is that cohorts:
- have been enrolled even in relatively recent times
- include women
- enrolled resident population from different geographic areas in
Italy
- everywhere the same standardized methodologies and procedures have
been adopted to collect and validate fatal and non-fatal major
cardiovascular events.
Within the Progetto Cuore longitudinal studies gave a paramount
contribution to evaluate the global absolute cardiovascular risk of
the Italian adult population, and to create:
- the Cardiovascular risk chart, built on the basis of 6 risk factors
(sex, age, diabetes, smoking habits, total cholesterolemia and blood
pressure) to predict the following end points: acute myocardial
infarction, coronary death, sudden death, stroke, intervention of
revascularization
- the Individual score, which allows a more accurate risk evaluation
based on 8 risk factors; in addition to those included in the risk
chart (CARTE) it considers Hdl-cholesterol level and the use of
anti-hypertensive medication, which indicates past long-lasting
arterial hypertension
- statistical analyses to deepen the multifactorial aetiology of
coronary and cerebrovascular diseases by evaluating other factors not
included in the Cardiovascular risk chart and in the individual score
(also participating to international collaboration)
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