Time trends of risk factors for coronary heart disease in southern Italy

In the last years an unfavourable trend in dietary habits has been observed in Italy, which is recognized to have a low occurrence rate of coronary heart disease. Time trends for some coronary heart disease risk factors related to environmental exposure, have been evaluated using data from the Olivetti longitudinal study. Data of ten year follow-up on one thousand people have been used for this purpose. An unfavourable trend for the average levels of some risk factors was detected in all age groups. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) showed an average increase of 6 mmHg in the population as whole, the greatest increase being experienced in the 20–29 age group. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) increased from 82 to 89 mmHg. Serum cholesterol (CHOL) at ten years follow-up was 27 mg/dl higher with greatest increase at younger ages. Body mass index (BMI) was almost unchanged over years as well as triglyceride. The unfavourable trend observed in some major risk factors for cardiovascular disease reflects unfavourable changes in lifestyle related to them, including eating habits, have characterized the last thirty years in Italy.