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Cardiovascular Prevention in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

Consensus Document  SIP, SIIA, SISA, and SIPREC

Questo lavoro nasce dalla consapevolezza che le malattie cardiovascolari, prima causa di morte nel mondo, affondano le loro radici già nell’infanzia. Le evidenze dimostrano infatti che i processi aterosclerotici iniziano precocemente, con lesioni vascolari osservabili già nella prima decade di vita. Parallelamente, la crescente diffusione di obesità, ipertensione, dislipidemia, insulino-resistenza e altri fattori di rischio tra bambini e adolescenti rappresenta una minaccia concreta per la salute futura delle nuove generazioni. 
Il documento, frutto della collaborazione tra SISA, SIP, SIIA e SIPREC, intende richiamare l’attenzione sulla necessità di una prevenzione cardiovascolare che inizi il più presto possibile, idealmente già in gravidanza e nei primi giorni di vita. Si sottolinea inoltre che la prevenzione richiede il coinvolgimento attivo di famiglie, pediatri, scuole, istituzioni sanitarie e decisori politici, poiché solo un’azione coordinata tra tutti gli attori sociali può invertire la tendenza attuale e ridurre il carico futuro di malattie cardiovascolari nella popolazione adulta.

Cardiovascular Prevention in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. A Call-to-Action of the Italian Societies of Pediatrics (SIP), Hypertension (SIIA), Study of Atherosclerosis (SISA), and Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC)
Simonetta Genovesi, Roberto Volpe, Davide Agnoletti, Simonetta Bellone, Gianni Bona, Manuela Casula, Luigi Gentile, Francesca Saladini, Rino Agostiniani, Agostino Virdis, Alberico L. Catapano, Massimo Volpe, and Marco Giussani 
High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2025 Dec 9. 
doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-025-00773-2

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs), primarily driven by atherosclerosis, remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide and represent a major healthcare burden. Mounting evidence demonstrates that atherosclerotic processes begin in childhood, with lipid streaks detectable as early as the first decade of life. The increasing prevalence of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in children and adolescents highlights the urgent need for prevention strategies starting early in life. This document, jointly produced by the Italian Society of Pediatrics (SIP), the Italian Society of Hypertension (SIIA), the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis (SISA), and the Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC), emphasizes that atherosclerosis should be considered a disease with its roots in childhood and that true primary prevention must begin from pregnancy and birth. Two possible and complementary levels of intervention should be considered: (1) population-wide promotion of healthy diets, lifestyles, and supportive environments; and (2) early identification and management of specific CVRFs in children and adolescents. The involvement of multiple stakeholders—families, pediatricians, schools, healthcare professionals, policymakers, patient associations, and the media—is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of prevention interventions. Particular attention must be given to obesity, as both an independent risk factor and a driver of additional metabolic and vascular risks. Fighting CVDs requires a paradigm shift: preventive action must start early, be comprehensive, and mobilize all sectors of society. Only by addressing cardiovascular risk during childhood can the future burden of CVDs be effectively reduced.



High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev (2025) - Consensus Document SIP, SIIA, SISA, and SIPREC
High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev (2025) - Consensus Document SIP, SIIA, SISA, and SIPREC