Ricerc@Sapienza

The term diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) labels an abnormal cardiac structure and performance due to intrinsic heart muscle malfunction, independently of other vascular co-morbidity. DCM, accounting for 50%-80% of deaths in diabetic patients, represents a worldwide problem for human health and related economics. Optimal glycemic control is not sufficient to prevent DCM, which derives from heart remodeling and geometrical changes, with both consequences of critical events initially occurring at the cardiomyocyte level.

Background:

The appropriate use of the National Health Systems (NHS) can be difficult for foreigners, leading to misuse of emergency rooms (ERs) and to underuse of primary care services. This study investigated the risk of avoidable hospitalization using Prevention Quality Indicators (PQIs) for several chronic and acute conditions that can be prevented with appropriate ambulatory care among Romanians, the most representative foreign population in Rome, highlighting differences before and after their entry into the EU in 2007.

Methods: