Keywords
Elderly Population
Health Promotion
Multidisciplinary Team
Prevention
Screening Program
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults, highlighting the need for effective preventive strategies. Structured screening programs may enhance the early detection and management of cardiovascular risk factors in this population. To describe the impact of the PREVASC multidisciplinary model in promoting collaboration in cardiovascular prevention, collecting evidence on cardiovascular risk, and assessing gender differences in cardiovascular risk prevention among the older population.
Methods. In this descriptive correlational cross-sectional study data were collected from 1,836 participants aged 65–94 years enrolled in the PREVASC screening program. All professionals involved in the PREVASC screening campaign entered data into a standardized data collection system. Participants underwent structured cardiovascular assessments, and adherence to pharmacological therapy, sociodemographic characteristics, and time spent at the screening center were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze frequencies, percentages, and measures of central tendency and dispersion.
Results. Among the scheduled participants, 1,640 (89.37%) attended the screening, while 196 (10.63%) did not. Adherence to pharmacological therapy was high, with 1,453 participants (90%) reporting ongoing treatment; adherence was higher among women (91.4%) than men (88.3%). The mean age of participants was 72.52 years, with a predominance of women (55.9%). The average time spent at the screening center was 1 hour and 3 minutes (range: 22 minutes–3 hours and 47 minutes), indicating an efficient organizational structure.
Discussion. The PREVASC program demonstrated high participation rates and sustainable operational performance, supporting the feasibility of structured cardiovascular screening in older adults. The integration of multiprofessional expertise and community-based preventive activities represents a replicable model for effective cardiovascular prevention and early risk identification, with potential relevance for public health planning.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Francesco Zaghini, Chiara Vergari, Rocco Mazzotta, Roberta Morandini, Alessandro Boccanelli, Donatella Padua, Vera Kopsaj, Gianluca Cortis, Niccolò Marchionni, Nazario Carrabba, Matteo Amico, Eleonora Selvi, Ercole Vellone, Francesco Scerbo, Rosario Alvaro