CA.ME.LI.A. An epidemiological study on the prevalence of cardiovascular, metabolic, liver and autoimmune diseases in Northern Italy

Background and Aims CA.ME.LI.A (CArdiovascular risks, MEtabolic syndrome, LIver and Autoimmune disease) is a cross-sectional, epidemiological study performed 2009-2011 Abbiategrasso (Milan, Italy) to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic syndrome, liver and autoimmune diseases in the general adult population. This report focuses on the description and presentation of baseline characteristics of the population. Methods and Results Citizens were randomly selected from the city electoral registers (n=30903), yielding a sample of 2554 subjects (M=1257, F=1297; age, 47±15 yrs; range 18-77 yrs). Men had higher prevalence of overweight or obesity (60.8% vs 41.6%; p<0.0001) and greater thickness of visceral adipose tissue (40±19 vs 27±17 mm; p<0.0001); no gender difference was found in subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness. Men also showed higher levels of serum triglycerides, γ-GT, fasting blood glucose, insulin and Homa-IR Index, while HDL, CRP, and prevalence of elevated (>5.0 mg/L) CRP were lower. Compared to normal weight men, risk-ratio (RR) of CRP elevation was 1.32 (ns) in overweight and 2.68 (p<0.0001) in obese subjects. The corresponding figures in females were 2.68 (p<0.0001) and 5.18 (p<0.0001). Metabolic syndrome was more frequent in men (32.7% vs. 14.5%; RR: 2.24, p<0.0001). Interadventitia common carotid artery diameter was higher in men and increased with age and BMI. Conclusions The present study reports on the overall characteristics of a large population from Northern Italy. It aims to identify the associations among cardiovascular risk factors to prevent their development and progression, improve healthy lifestyle and identify subjects liable to pharmacological interventions.