Ethnicity, cardiovascular diseases and italian cardiology in an evolving society

Non native residents form around 7-8% of total italian population. In these people, as for virtually all population groups living in the western world, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death. But there are striking ethnic differences in CVD risk factors. The disease presentation may also differ, challenging diagnostic skills, and therapeutic requirements and responses may also be not uniform. The overall health of our society will be largely determined by success in improving the health for minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Therefore, it is essential that all healthcare providers understand how to recognize, diagnose, and treat CVD risk in these patient groups. To achieve these goals, the Italian Federation of Cardiology, and the affiliated Italian Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (GICR-IACPR) must implement programs that aim to educate clinicians about the unique peculiarities of CVD and associated risk factors in minority groups, in order to improve diagnosis and individualize care in these populations.