AWARENESS, TREATMENT AND CONTROL OF HYPERLIPIDEMIA, HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES-MELLITUS IN A SELECTED POPULATION OF SOUTHERN ITALY

The purpose of the present study was to assess the degree of awareness , treatment and control of hyperlipidaemia compared with hypertension and diabetes mellitus in a selected population of southern Italy. All participants to a cardiovascular disease prevention campaign examined between April 1994 and July 1995 were screened for hyperlipidaemia, hy pertension and diabetes mellitus. Subjects received also ECG, echo-Dop pler of carotid arteries and filled in a questionnaire concerning pers onal and familial cardiovascular diseases, smoking habit and drug cons umption. Of the 742 participants, 327 were found to have hypertension, 73 to have diabetes mellitus, 287 to have mild hyperlipidaemia and 32 2 to have moderate-severe hyperlipidaemia. Among hypertensive subjects , 60.2% were aware of their condition, 53.5% were treated and 15.6% ha d their blood pressure controlled at the recommended level (< 140/90 m mHg). Among diabetic subjects, 76.7% were aware, 64.4% treated and 19. 2% reached fasting blood glucose level of less than 7.77 mmol/l (140 m g/dl). Only 24.0% of subjects with mild hyperlipidaemia were aware of their condition. Of the subjects found to have moderate-severe hyperli pidaemia, 64.9% were aware, 32.3% were treated and 9.0% had plasma cho lesterol and triglycerides concentration of less than 6.45 and 5.65 mm ol/l (250 and 500 mg/dl), respectively (cutoffs chosen to separate mil d from moderate-severe hyperlipidaemia). These results show that mild hyperlipidaemia is almost neglected whereas awareness of moderate-seve re hyperlipidaemia is quite widespread and comparable to that of hyper tension and diabetes mellitus. Prevalence of treatment and control of moderate-severe hyperlipidaemia is, however, much lower than that of h ypertension and diabetes.