2008 white paper for implementing strategies and interventions for cardiovascular prevention in Italy.

The present article for improving strategies and interventions for cardiovascular prevention in Italy represents the collaborative work of several scientific societies that recognize their own role and mission in the field of prevention of cardiovascular diseases. It originates from the need, felt in many European and non-European countries, as well as at the level of the EU, to rapidly promote strategies and interventions to better prevent cardiovascular diseases.The main reason for producing this article is represented by the growing clinical and socioeconomic impact that cardiovascular diseases will have in Italy in the next few years. This, in fact, will bring serious problems regarding the ability to sustain the entire national healthcare system in Italy.This article reviews some of the major data available on projections of cardiovascular diseases and their social and economic burden. This article represents a White Paper, and it is conceived as a new starting point, proposing general specific interventions, addressed to decision-makers, stakeholders, institutions, citizens, physicians, healthcare workers, organizations and industries. These proposals are listed, and briefly discussed, leading to the development of a 'call-to-action', aimed at reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and their impact on the healthcare system, even in the short to medium term.