On 19 March 2024, the Report on cardiomyopathies in Italy, by Title “Cardiomyopathies Matter. A roadmap to improve the diagnosis and care of patients with cardiomyopathy in Italy".
The objective of this important event was dictated by the desire to contribute to improving the diagnosis and care of patients with cardiomyopathy in Italy, to raise public awareness and ensure that these pathologies receive the right attention from the legislator, the decision makers of the national healthcare system and information channels at European and national level.
The report highlights how cardiovascular diseases currently represent the main cause of death in Italy, responsible for 35,8% of all deaths. More than 230 thousand people a year die from ischemia, heart attacks, heart failure, heart and cerebrovascular diseases, as shown by ISTAT data. These pathologies constitute a significant chapter of healthcare expenditure, since they necessarily imply hospitalization.
Cardiomyopathies, among cardiovascular pathologies, are a group of diseases often with familiarity, with hereditary transmission, which can be diagnosed at any age, more rarely in pediatric age, more often in adult or geriatric age. A large part of sudden youth deaths (before the age of 50) can be traced back to cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias, heart failure and even heart transplants can be attributed to them. In Italy alone, there are an estimated 350 thousand patients suffering from a form of cardiomyopathy.
The report explains:
- cardiomyopathies and their impact on patients, their families, healthcare systems and society
- identifies the main challenges and unmet needs throughout the patient care journey, with particular attention to early diagnosis, optimal disease management, patient empowerment, with an eye to research and innovation;
- It also provides policy guidelines and a series of useful indications for legislators and institutional stakeholders of national importance to address these challenges and improve the care of patients affected by this pathology.
The report can be downloaded here:
The report was drawn up with the support of Bristol Meyers Squibb and with the contribution of the following experts:
Cardiologists
Prof. Franco Cecchi, president of the Italian Association of Cardiomyopathies (AICARM APS), former Professor of Cardiology at the University of Florence and Head of the Cardiomyopathy Reference Center of the Tuscany Region
Prof. Iacopo Olivotto, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence. Head of pediatric and transition cardiology, Meyer IRCCS University Hospital, Florence
Prof. Gianfranco Sinagra, Professor of Cardiology, University of Trieste, Director of the ASUGI Cardiothoracovascular Department, President-elect of the Italian Society of Cardiology and representing patients,
Patient representatives
Eng. Matteo Pinciroli – President of the Council of patients suffering from cardiomyopathy, Global Heart Hub, also representing AICARM APS.