THE ITALIAN LONGITUDINAL-STUDY ON AGING (ILSA) - DESIGN AND METHODS

The Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA) is a population-based, longitudinal study of the health status of Italians aged 65-84 years. The main objectives of ILSA are the study of the prevalence and incide nce rates of common chronic conditions in the older population, and th e identification of their risk and protective factors. ILSA is also de signed to assess age-associated physical and mental functional changes . A random sample of 5632 individuals, stratified by age and gender us ing the equal allocation strategy, was identified on the demographic l ists of the registry office of eight municipalities: Genova, Segrate ( Milano), Selvazzano-Rubano (Padova), Impruneta (Firenze), Fermo (Ascol i Piceno), Napoli, Casamassima (Bari), and Catania. An extensive inves tigation, including interviews, physical exams, and laboratory tests, was conducted at baseline to identify the presence of cardiovascular d isease (ischemic heart disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure , arrhythmia, intermittent claudication), diabetes, impaired glucose t olerance, thyroid dysfunction, dementia, parkinsonism, stroke, and per ipheral neuropathy, as well as assess physical and mental functional s tatus. The baseline examination was carried out between March 1992 and June 1993; a second comprehensive examination will begin in March 199 5. An interim hospital discharge data survey and a mortality survey ar e currently ongoing to assess the hospitalization rate and the cause-s pecific mortality rate in this study cohort.