Performance assessment across different care settings of a heart failure hospitalisation risk-score for type 2 diabetes using administrative claims.

Predicting the risk of cardiovascular complications, in particular heart failure hospitalisation (HHF), can improve the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Most predictive models proposed so far rely on clinical data not available at the higher Institutional level. Therefore, it is of interest to assess the risk of HHF in people with T2D using administrative claims data only, which are more easily obtainable and could allow public health systems to identify high-risk individuals.

General population screening for atrial fibrillation with an automated rhythm-detection blood pressure device.

Background: Screening strategies to diagnose previously undetected atrial fibrillation (AF), especially silent AF (SAF), in at-risk populations may help reduce the number of strokes. We prospectively assessed the incidence rate of AF, including SAF, using an automated AF-detection capable sphygmomanometer in the General Practitioner (GP) setting.

Methods: This was a population-based prospective study of unselected general population of ≥65 years without prior AF.

Prevalence of frailty in older people in Veneto (Italy).

Both frailty and multimorbidity are strong predictors of clinical endpoints for older people. In Italy, the interventions targeting chronicity are mainly based on the treatment of diseases: sufficient epidemiological literature is available about these strategies. Less is known about the territorial distribution of the frailty status.

COPD management as a model for all chronic respiratory conditions: report of the 4 Consensus Conference in Respiratory Medicine.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) kill 40 million people each year. The management of chronic respiratory NCDs such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is particularly critical in Italy, where they are widespread and represent a heavy burden on healthcare resources. It is thus important to redefine the role and responsibility of respiratory specialists and their scientific societies, together with that of the whole healthcare system, in order to create a sustainable management of COPD, which could become a model for other chronic respiratory conditions.

The care for chronic heart failure by general practitioners. Results from a clinical audit in Italy.

Background: In Italian primary care, chronic heart failure (CHF) patients are mainly managed by general practitioners (GPs). However, there are few studies analysing CHF management challenges in primary care and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Objectives: To describe CHF care as implemented by GPs in the Veneto Region and to identify opportunities for improvement.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its relationship with clinically prevalent cardiovascular disease in the Veneto region, northeastern Italy.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is more frequent in adults with metabolic syndrome than in those without. We wished to assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and the role of its specific components on prevalent CVD in a large cohort of subjects from the general population.

Methods: Seventy-eight general practitioners among 3,542 were identified and participated in this study.