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The study reports the results of a survey about smoking collected by a self-administered questionnaire in nursing students at Pavia University. Responders were 393 (80%: M = 132, F = 261, mean age 24.66 +/- 5.64). 45% of the students (51.5% males and 41.8% females) were smokers. Cigarettes consumption was 12.33 cigarettes/day in males and 10.49 cigarettes/day in females; males began smoking at 16 years of age, while females at 17 years. Smoking in family members as well as father's educational level were positively associated to smoking. 66.5% of smokers stated they would like to quit and the most of them are pressed in this decision by family (49.7%) and friends (49.2%). The results of the study describe an unhealthy lifestyle: in future it seems necessary to organize counselling or interventions in order to quit smoking.

Cardiovascular diseases represent the first cause of death and disability in Italy. The main reversible risk factors are high levels of LDL-cholesterol, hypertension, tobacco-smoking, diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome and poor physical activity (at leisure). The prevalence of these risk factors is high in adult Italian population. Cardiovascular diseases prevention should start early in life, with health promotion programs aimed at the acquisition of a healthy lifestyle in communities such as schools and worksites. Besides the "cardiovascular risk score" should be used by general practitioners in order to screen adult population and to lower risk factors levels.

The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Tavazzano (Lodi) inhabitants, in order to implement efficacious and preventive strategies at community level. In 1998 the target population consisted of 2055 adults (males and females) aged 35-64, living in Tavazzano (Lodi province). The examined population was made of 856 subjects (399 males and 457 females), with a participation rate equal to 41,6%. A questionnaire concerning medical history and life habits such as: smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity was administered to each participant. Height, Weight, Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure, Fasting Blood Glucose, Total Cholesterol and triglycerides were collected. A 12-leads electrocardiogram, evaluated both with standard clinical criteria and Minnesota Code, was done for each subject. The results show a high prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension (25,2%), smoking (26,1%), obesity (14,6%), hypercholesterolemia (27,5%), low physical activity (39,6%) mainly in males and with an increasing trend with age. These data indicate the need of preventive programmes addressed to the general population and to "subjects at risk", according to the National Health Plan 2003-2005.

Age-standardized mean two-years mortality rates are compared with those ones of Lombardy region in 1991-1998 period. A decreasing trend of total mortality (-19%) consistent with the regional rates was noticed and a tendency to convergence at the end of the observation period. The reduction is more evident for cardiovascular diseases (-25.48% M and -26.77% F) and for cancer (-16.89% M and -10.6% F), where provincial rates are more markedly diminishing than those ones observed in Lombardy region. Among the specific causes of death, colon and stomach cancer mortality shows a fall in both sexes as well as lung cancer in males and breast cancer in females, while lung cancer mortality in women is increasing. Respiratory diseases mortality, after an initial reduction, shows a modest raise in males, while digestive system disease mortality, always higher than the regional one, decreases by 29.09% in males and 12.15% in females as well as external causes (-27.82% M and -28.37% F). On the contrary infectious disease mortality is increasing, following the regional trend. The mortality surveillance and the comparison of local rates with regional or national ones is the first step to evaluate the population health status for the provision of prevention and care.