[Prevention Italy 2021 - An update of the 2018 Consensus document and recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in Italy]

Cardiovascular prevention represents one of the most important strategies of public health, since cardiovascular diseases are the first cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Measures to promote a healthy lifestyle and an adequate control of risk factors need be highlighted also during the COVID-19 outbreak, which has dramatically changed the priorities and the use of available resources by the National Health Systems. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown measures imposed in several countries have caused a widespread diffusion of behaviors with detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system, including inappropriate dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle and smoking. Moreover, as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, a relevant number of programmed follow-up visits and screening procedures have been cancelled, and hospital admissions for severe acute pathologies, such as myocardial infarction, have been significantly reduced, with a parallel increase in fatality and complication rates. This represents a serious social issue, whose impact will last for many years, and which deserves priority attention by the scientific and healthcare communities. In such a context, cardiovascular prevention may play a key role in interrupting this vicious circle.