The Laboratory has a long tradition of epidemiological research in collaboration with networks of general practitioners, cardiologists and internists conducting several observational studies and clinical trials in the cardiovascular field.
In particular, research activity is focused on optimising cardiovascular prevention. The studies in the field of primary prevention aim to improve the risk profile by intervening on lifestyles, including also digital medicine and, to evaluate new risk estimation approaches in order to improve the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in the Italian population.
Within the laboratory, researchers have conducted studies to assess adherence to recommended therapies for the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction using the polypill strategy (i.e. the recommended drugs administered together) compared to drugs administered separately. The efficacy and safety of the polypill strategy compared to standard therapy were also studied.
Another study on peripheral arterial disease, a condition that is still neglected to date, aimed to describe the prevalence of the disease in patients with coronary artery disease, as well as the management of patients with multivessel disease in clinical practice.
Another laboratory's activity is on pharmaco-epidemiological analyses to describe the trend of diseases over time, with the main focus on cardiovascular diseases describing the impact of these diseases on the healthcare system. Analyses are conducted using data on pharmaceutical prescriptions, hospital admissions and specialist care collected in the administrative databases of the Lombardy region, describing the impact of these diseases on the health system.
Population-based cardiovascular risk assessment
The SKIM risk study, conducted by General Practitioners, aims to facilitate the cardiovascular risk assessment, recommended in subjects 40 years or older. Currently, population based cardiovascular screening are costly, time-consuming and poorly effective in reducing cardiovascular events. The study objective is to develop an inexpensive screening algorithm, based on non-laboratory measures, to select subjects at low risk in order to facilitate the realization of population-based cardiovascular screening programs and to concentrate the limited resources only for those subjects who are really at higher cardiovascular risk. The study will involve 3000 subjects. This project is funded by the Ministry of Health within the Ricerca Finalizzata public Grant 2016 framework.
Drug-epidemiologic profile of subjects at cardiovascular risk
The main purpose of this project, carried out in collaboration with Lombardy Region, is to describe prevalence, incidence outcome, management and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. For this purpose, the administrative health database of Lombardy Region is analysed. It contains data on demographics, drug therapy, hospitalizations, emergency room admissions, and the outpatient services of about 10 million residents. Through the cross-linkage of these information, in an anonymized way, it is possible to trace the epidemiological profile and drug treatments of patients with cardiovascular diseases.
LongCovid Network - Regione Lombardia
As part of studies investigating the clinical determinants, prognosis and long-term effects of the disease, cardiovascular complications in patients after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection were analysed using administrative databases from the Lombardy region. Additionally, within the framework of the LLC project, 'Lombardia Long COVID Network', an analysis was conducted to evaluate predictors of re-hospitalisation for SARS-CoV-2 infection following initial admission.
CV PREVITAL Study
The Ministry of Health-supported CV study PREVITAL was conducted at Parliament's request and involved General Practitioners (GPs) and IRCCSs from the Italian-level Cardiovascular Network. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile health intervention using a downloadable smartphone app designed to monitor and manage the most important risk factors in comparison with usual care. Using the m-health app enables to detect and modify incorrect lifestyles (e.g. poor diet, physical inactivity and smoking) by providing periodic and tailored messages. The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research is responsible for coordinating the GPs participating in the project.
For further information on the study, click here
CVRISK-IT Study
The CVRISK-IT study is a research project investigating innovative approaches to predicting cardiovascular (CV) disease risk in order to optimise primary prevention in healthy subjects (i.e. those without a history of CV disease or diabetes) in Italy. The project is divided into two phases: a) phase I a population screening to assess CV risk profiles using traditional risk estimation scores: b) phase II to assess the benefits of integrating additional information derived from genetic or imaging data to better trace the CV risk profiling. Patient-targeting approaches involving tailored educational and nutritional programmes (in addition to therapeutic interventions if necessary) aimed at improving participants' lifestyles and correcting risk factors is also evaluated.
For further information on the study, click here
LIVELY - Project ONFOODS sustainable development of food and nutrition
The cardiovascular prevention laboratory is also involved in the LIVELY project which aims to identify the prevalence and determinants of childhood obesity. This is one of the most relevant public health issues as it is a risk factor for diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adulthood. The project is being implemented in a primary school of Milan aiming also to assess the feasibility of multidimensional educational strategies to promote healthier and more sustainable lifestyles and improve behavioural attitudes to prevent overweight and obesity.
For further information on the study, click here
International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
