On 27 April, at the Great Hall of 3rd Wing of the Italian Air Force of Villafranca, a conference was held dedicated to Research project “CVRISK-IT”, aimed at cardiovascular prevention in the adult population.
The meeting began with a welcome from the Commander of the 3rd Wing, Colonel Francesco Russo, which highlighted the value of initiative and collaboration between military healthcare and excellent civilian entities: “This initiative represents an important opportunity for growth and integration between military and civilian healthcare, allowing us to systematise existing skills, experiences and capabilities in the area. Projects like this highlight our personnel and pave the way for new collaborations in the healthcare sector..”
Following this, the Colonel Alessandro Pisano, Head of the 1st Cardiology Section at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Milan, presented the “CVRISK-IT” project, promoted by the Institute itself, outlining its aims and prospects: “It CVRISK-IT project arises from the need to improve the ability to identify cardiovascular risk early, especially in younger population groups. Through the integration of genetic analyses and imaging techniques, we aim to develop more effective tools for primary prevention and long-term health protection..”
The project is being developed within the framework of Cardiac Network IRCCS, with the’IRCCS Policlinico San Donato which coordinating centre, and involves 17 centres Hub on national territory, including the’IRCCS San Raffaele of Milan, with whom the’Institute of Aerospace Medicine collaborates actively in conducting study activities. Funded by Department of Health, the project will be developed between 2024 and 2027 and is part of a synergy between military and civilian healthcare.
The study plans to recruit participants on a voluntary basis, including military and civilian personnel, with the aim of promoting an ever-increasing spread of cardiovascular prevention culture. The recruitment of 30,000 subjects, aged between 40 and 80, is planned. These subjects will initially be assessed through an outpatient visit with the calculation of SCORE 2 for cardiovascular risk assessment. Furthermore, 12,000 of these subjects will be randomised into four research groups: control, genetic analysis, investigations of Imaging and genetic analysis combined with Imaging. Participants will be monitored over time, with Follow-up clinical and periodic check-ups for up to ten years.
The initiative is part of the broader renewal process of military healthcare, which is increasingly oriented towards integration with the national health system and the development of high-level research activities.
The 3rd Wing, an entity under the Logistics Command Support Services, represents a benchmark in the sector of Operational logistics of the Italian Air Force, ensuring fundamental capabilities for the support and projection of forces, both nationally and in international contexts.
Alongside its established logistic vocation, the Department is also increasingly developing and enhancing the healthcare sector, through the use of specialised personnel and dedicated infrastructure. Within this context, the Sanitary Point of Entry (POE), a distinctive capability of the 3rd Wing to be presented in November 2025: a modular field camp, considered today one of the most advanced capabilities in the Italian landscape, designed for prevention, emergency management, as well as joint training and research with the academic world.
