The Friuli-Venezia Giulia Regional Register of Cardiovascular Diseases. Outlines of a decennial study adhering to the WHO Monica Project

The Regional Register of Cardiovascular Diseases is operating since January 1st, 1984 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, an administrative area located in North-eastern Italy. The purposes, the methodology and the institutions involved in the Register are described. The Register is based upon the WHO Monica Project, whose primary objective is to measure trends and determinants in cardiovascular mortality, coronary heart diseases and cerebrovascular disease morbidity and to assess the extent to which such trends are related to changes in known risk factors, daily living habits, health care, or major socio-economic features at the same time in defined communities in different countries. The Friuli area was officially accepted as a Monica Collaborating Centre, together with other 40 areas of 27 different countries. In the Friuli area 5 Reporting Units have been identified: Udine 1, Udine 2, Pordenone-Sacile, Gorizia and Monfalcone. In the Regional Register, according to the WHO Monica Protocol, there are two main sources of suspected cases, the official mortality statistics and the hospital discharges; after the identification every case is validated with standardized procedures and, as far as coronary events are concerned, a special acute coronary care form is filled up. During the 10-year period three screenings are scheduled, in order to monitor the cardiovascular risk factors. In the framework of the Regional Register a peculiar pathological substudy has been set up in the Province of Trieste, which is no part of the Monica area, but where the necropsy rate is high.