Rome, October 28, 2024 — The Social Affairs Committee has approved three key resolutions regarding the National Plan for Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases during its session on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. The work made by Hon. Malavasi, Hon. Girelli, and Hon. Ciancitto, has been instrumental in raising institutional awareness on the importance of prevention in this area. As a result of the discussions, the resolutions proposed by these members of the Parliament were officially approved and assigned the numbers 8-00069, 8-00070 and 8-00071, respectively, also citing the government’s commitment to implement a cardiovascular risk screening program for the elderly.
During the session, Hon. Gian Antonio Girelli referenced legislative proposals authored by himself and Hon. Panizzut. These law proposals, which focus on establishing an effective national screening program for cardiovascular risk in the elderly, are the result of dialogue and collaboration with the SHD Coalition. First presented at the Coalition’s event on September 26, the proposals aim to enhance early diagnosis and mitigate the serious health risks posed by cardiovascular diseases.
Hon. Ilenia Malavasi stressed the importance of keeping the screening initiative at the forefront of prevention policies, stating: “Promoting screening in the elderly population to identify cardiovascular disease risks is essential.” Likewise, Hon. Girelli highlighted the need for a proactive approach: “Our proposals, based on dialogue with the scientific community, aim to introduce this critical screening for over-70s, ensuring timely prevention and intervention.”
The session also garnered broad support from other lawmakers, including Hon. Francesco Ciancitto nd Hon. Andrea Quartini, who emphasized the importance of involving general practitioners in promoting these campaigns across Italy. Undersecretary Marcello Gemmato expressed a favorable opinion on the screening initiative, which underscores the importance of addressing the rising prevalence of age-related cardiovascular diseases as Italy’s population continues to age.
A Growing Public Health Crisis
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the European Union. The SHD Coalition is working to draw attention to the need for early detection, particularly in aging populations, where cardiovascular risks are often overlooked or misattributed to normal aging processes. Through initiatives like the screening program proposed by Hon. Girelli and Hon. Panizzut, the SHD Coalition aims to improve diagnosis and treatment, significantly enhancing the quality of life for elderly patients.
Next Steps and Continued Advocacy
The SHD Coalition will continue to collaborate with policymakers and the medical community to promote cardiovascular health and ensure that preventive screening programs become a routine part of healthcare for older populations. By acknowledging the burden of cardiovascular diseases and shedding light on the importance of secondary prevention measures, Italy is taking critical steps toward reducing the impact of CVDs in vulnerable groups, such as the population over 70. The SHD Coalition calls for continued engagement and support to ensure that attention to this issue is translated into actionable initiatives.