Roma, 15 Oct. (askanews) – Prevention at the heart of healthcare is not an option, but a responsibility towards citizens and an investment in the future of the country for a sustainable, innovative healthcare system capable of guaranteeing well-being and quality care. It is the message launched in the conference “Obesity, diabetes and lipoproteins. Ten proposals for prevention with the heart”organized by Healthcare Engine with representatives of institutions and patient associations to promote a new vision of public health focused on cardiovascular prevention. In this scenario, the Parliamentary Intergroup on Prevention and Risk Reduction and that on Cardio, Cerebral and Vascular Diseases have developed “Ten proposals for prevention with the heart”, a decalogue of concrete objectives to change pace.
The Hon. Gian Antonio Girelli, President of the Parliamentary Intergroup for prevention and risk reduction: “Talking about prevention is becoming increasingly important. If we have to look to a future where the quality of life, therefore the state of health of the population, can be improved, it means doing prevention, in lifestyles, in nutritional education, in the use of screening, in vaccinations. We must not wait to get sick to treat ourselves. We must take care of ourselves before we get sick”.
The cardiovascular diseases they represent the leading cause of death and are among the main causes of disability in Italy, Europe and the world. In 2021 they caused over 217,000 deaths in our country, 30.8% of all deaths, with an economic impact estimated at over 20 billion euros between direct costs and lost productivity. While Europe accelerates, in Italy there is still no national strategic plan for integrated prevention: a void that we intend to fill by tracing a clear direction to make Italy the first country to truly put the fight against cardiovascular diseases at the center of its agenda.
Prof. Alberico Catapano, President Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis: “The concept is how to prevent, therefore not only how to protect patients who have already had an event, but how to ensure that our population and our citizens are healthier and reach an advanced age without having had to incur cardiovascular events. It takes a desire for political harmonization, and also work on the part of all operators, to be able to achieve these goals”.
In addition to integrated screening and controls on obesity, diabetes and lipoproteins, among the priorities indicated in the decalogue proposed by the parliamentary intergroups are the establishment of a National Cardiovascular and Cardiometabolic Prevention Plan, the creation of a national register of cardiometabolic diseases and a dedicated territorial network for the multidisciplinary management of obesity, as well as educational campaigns in schools to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent stigma and isolation.
Sen. Elena Murelli, President of the Parliamentary Intergroup for Cardio, Cerebral and Vascular Diseases: “Writing a national plan for cardiovascular diseases, this is the important message. We must therefore have a long-term vision and include the communication and information part within the national plan, starting from citizens, young people, women, but also train general practitioners and first aid doctors and have a multidisciplinary team that directly follows the patient 360 degrees.”
The message of the initiative is that prevention is not a cost, but an investment in the future: the path to more equitable, modern and sustainable healthcare.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED