Global cardiovascular risk management in different Italian regions : an analysis of the evaluation of final feasible effect of control training and ultra sensitisation (EFFECTUS) educational program

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Final Evaluation Feasible Effect of Ultra Control Training and Sensitization (EFFECTUS) is an educational program, aimed at improving global CV risk stratification and management in Italy. The present study evaluates differences on clinical approach to global CV risk among physicians involved in the EFFECTUS program and stratified in three geographical macro-areas (North, Center, South) of our Country. METHODS AND RESULTS: Physicians were asked to submit data already available in their medical records, covering the first 10 adult outpatients, consecutively seen in the month of May 2006. Overall, 1.078 physicians (27% females, aged 50\ua0\ub1\ua07 years) collected data of 9.904 outpatients (46.5% females, aged 67\ua0\ub1\ua09 years), among which 3.219 (32.5%) were residents in Northern, 3.652 (36.9%) in Central and 3.033 (30.6%) in Southern Italy. A significantly higher prevalence of major CV risk factors, including obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension and diabetes, was recorded in Southern than in other areas. Accordingly, Southern physicians more frequently prescribed antihypertensive, glucose and lipid lowering agents than other physicians, who paid significantly more attention to life-style changes in their clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of the EFFECTUS study demonstrates a high prevalence of CV risk factors in Italy, particularly in Southern areas, and indicates some important discrepancies in the clinical management of global CV risk among physcians working in different Italian regions