Sardinia , a land historically associated with longevity and the presence of numerous centenarians, is today facing a significantly worsening health trend: overweight, obesity and dyslipidemia are on the rise and now affect hundreds of thousands of citizens, with an increasingly significant impact on the regional healthcare system.
This is what emerged from the conference "Dyslipidemia and Obesity: Two Faces of Cardiometabolic Risk," promoted by the Italian Society of Internal Medicine (SIMI) , which in Sassari brought together internists, specialists, and general practitioners from various centers on the island to take stock of diagnosis, prevention, and new therapeutic opportunities.
In the University Hospital of Sassari alone, it was emphasized, over 1,000 new patients with dyslipidemia or high cardiovascular risk are admitted each year. It is estimated that in Sardinia, one in four people aged 35-49 has high cholesterol levels, a figure that rises to nearly one in two people over 50 (source: Istituto Superiore di Sanità). In Sardinia, there is also a higher frequency of familial hypercholesterolemia, which is caused by genetic factors.
Furthermore, "according to the most recent data from the Ministry of Health's PASSI surveillance system (2023-2024), an estimated 600,000 people on the island are overweight (33% of the population) and approximately 160,000 are obese (about 8-9%). These numbers, while keeping Sardinia slightly below the national average (about 2 percentage points), highlight a growing trend that worries specialists."
The phenomenon affects all age groups, including pediatrics: approximately 25% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese (source: SardegnaSalute), highlighting a structural problem that will continue to worsen in the years to come, making a structured prevention and management strategy increasingly urgent. Particularly relevant in the regional context is the link with diabetes, a highly prevalent disease in Sardinia and often closely linked to excess weight.
"Obesity and dyslipidemia are currently two of the main factors associated with numerous chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and kidney failure, as well as acute events such as heart attacks and strokes," explains Chiara Pes , president of the Sardinia chapter of SIMI. "Early intervention significantly reduces the likelihood of developing these conditions."
The conference also discussed the latest therapeutic options, with particular attention to strategies for controlling cholesterol and plasma lipids, as well as innovative treatments for obesity.
"Hypercholesterolemia is a silent condition; it doesn't produce obvious symptoms for years, so patients tend not to worry. Furthermore, many key treatment medications, including statins, are often mistakenly "demonized" due to fear of side effects," continues Dr. Pes. "Today's guidelines tell us that we must lower LDL cholesterol as much as possible, and as early as possible, to reduce cardiovascular disease and mortality."
On the therapeutic front, alongside the established mainstays of statins and ezetimibe, new therapeutic options have been added in recent years, such as bempedoic acid and, in more complex cases, innovative drugs such as PCSK9 inhibitors and inclisiran, prescribed in specialist centers.
But the answer cannot be solely pharmacological. Experts reiterate the importance of addressing the main determinants of the disease: diet, physical activity, and weight management. Lifestyle becomes the true key factor in regulating cardiometabolic risk, one of the most significant challenges facing internal medicine today.
Finally, the recognition of obesity as a chronic disease is increasingly crucial. This paradigm shift, according to specialists, can improve access to care, promote a multidisciplinary approach, and help reduce the social stigma still associated with this condition.
"Recognizing obesity as a chronic disease significantly changes the way it is approached by doctors, institutions, and society," Pes concludes. " Considering it as a disease can reduce the discrimination and guilt that often hinder treatment, foster a more comprehensive and continuous medical approach to patients, increase research in this field, and strengthen public health policies."
(Unioneonline)