[Relationship between the assessment of coronary risk using the Italian chart and the assessment with the New Zealand chart]. / Relazione tra la valutazione del rischio coronarico calcolato con la carta italiana e quella neozelandese.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the distribution of coronary risk in primary prevention using both the New Zealand and Italian charts, and to assess whether there is a relationship between the two scales built on data from populations at different natural coronary risk. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Carpi's district, Territorial Health Authority in Modena province. PARTICIPANTS: Population between 40 and 69 years old without any background of cardiovascular disease. MAIN MEASURES: The variables studied corresponded to the Jackson's New Zealand table and the Italian Progetto Cuore's one. Concordance was assessed with the kappa coefficient. RESULTS: We studied 1850 men and 2235 women with an average age of 56 years. The percentage of 'high' coronary risk men and women at the New Zealand's chart was 27% and 8% respectively. Ten percent of 'high' risk men and no woman were found at the Italian chart. The kappa coefficient to evaluate the agreement on high risk men between the two charts was 'moderate' (kappa = 0.403). No estimation was allowed for women. CONCLUSION: There was moderate agreement between the New Zealand and the Progetto Cuore charts.

Characteristics of an Italian diabetic population and long-term changes in glycaemic control at varying body weight categories.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of a diabetic population in a primary care setting, and to evaluate changes in glycaemic control at varying body weight categories. METHODS: We collected 4,610 valid baseline and three years follow-up paired data sheets sent from 77% of the general practitioners adhering to our shared-care program (257 GPs out of 521) for people with type 2 diabetes. Three conventional body weight categories were defined: "normal" (BMI, < or = 25 kg/m2), "overweight" (BMI 25.0-29.9), "obesity" (BMI > or = 30). According to weight status we calculated descriptive statistics and follow-up paired changes. RESULTS: A fifth of the diabetic patients had a "normal" BMI, about 45% was "overweight" and 34% was "obese". At follow-up, the glycaemic control significantly improved both in "normal" and "overweight" people, while it significantly worsened in "obese" ones. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the crucial role played by body weight and its changes in diabetic patients.