Cardiovascular health of the elderly.

Within the Osservatorio Epidemiologico Cardiovascolare/Health Examination Survey 426 men and 376 women, ages 75-79 years, randomly selected from the general population were examined. Participation rate was 50%; within men 78% were hypertensives, 36% had high serum cholesterol, 28% were diabetics, 25% were obese; within women 81% were hypertensives, 55% had high cholesterol, 19% were diabetics, 37% were obese. Preventive actions at individual and community level are urgent, also at this age range.