Novel Risk Prediction Approaches for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in Italy: the CVRISK-IT Trial (CVRISK-IT)

The CVRISK-IT study aims to evaluate the health benefit of measuring genetic and imaging risk information in men and women considered at 'low-to-moderate' or 'high' risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in a randomized controlled trial in Italian primary care settings. Our primary objective is to answer a fundamental question in the prevention and prediction of CVD in Italy and globally: is there any benefit in including additional information (such as genetic and/or imaging data) in estimating risk, in conjunction with lifestyle advice and medical treatment for primary prevention of CVD?

As a key secondary objective of the CVRISK-IT study, the goal is to build a large bioresource with clinical information and biological samples to facilitate a new generation of discovery and translational research that will advance understanding of the genetic, molecular and behavioural determinants as well as mechanisms of multiple chronic diseases in the Italian population. By contributing to the Rete Cardiologica database and the BBDCARDIO biobank, the CVRISK-IT study will also serve as a cornerstone for future investigations into the development and testing of early diagnostic technologies and preventive (or 'personalised precision health') interventions for chronic diseases.