PREVES: a population-based survey focused on cancer and nutrition

Introduction. Approximately a third of cancer-related deaths are attributable to modifiable factors. Methods. As a pilot experience, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 8000 citizens residing in four different municipalities of the Salerno province (Sarno, Pagani, San Valentino Torio and San Marzano sul Sarno) to investigate key lifestyle and dietary habits. Results. A total of 703 of participants (8.7%) reported a history of malignancy. Alarmingly,30.5% declared to be a current smoker, while 78.8%did not report any kind of physical activity. Encouragingly,64.5% declared to be abstemious and 83.0% declared to consume fruit and vegetables every day, while 4.7%and 31.9% declared not to consume meat and fried food, respectively, at any time. Never consumers of fruit and vegetables had higher odds of having a history of colo-rectal cancer (OR= 5.01; 95%CI= 1.46 to 17.15; p= 0.01). Conclusions. The PREVES study has served to prove the validity of an operational model allowing to integrate hospital and territorial healthcare services, which we expect to be applied at a larger scale. Key information regarding dietary and lifestyle habits of the investigated population was obtained. Larger studies conducted using more accurate approaches to investigate diet, such as 24-hour recalls and food frequency questionnaires, are warranted.