Background: During menopause, women are more exposed to cardiovascular risk factors, some of them can be easily modified by primary and secondary prevention. This paper describes some demographic indicators and cardiovascular risk factors among Italian women.
Methods: This study describes the Italian women's cardiovascular risk, using the data collected and updated at the end of the 1990s, within the Cardiovascular Epidemiological Observatory, an Italian Collaborative Project of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and the Italian Association of Cardiologists.
Results: Women aged 60 years and over represent 13% of the population; regional differences on mean values of cardiovascular risk factors are evident. Hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and obesity are prevalent particularly in Southern Italy and among the social classes in the lowest education level.
Conclusions: The data confirm the importance of the main objectives stated by the National Health Plan 1998-2000: promotion of healthier dietary habits, of physical activity, and reduction of smoking habits. This requires specific action to improve women's health condition, to provide for their special needs and to create awareness among women about the importance of preventive action also during the aging process.