Participants
A population-based, multistage sampling method was used to select men (75 ± 7 yr) and women (74 ± 7 yr), from the Republic of Cyprus, the Replic of Malta, Sardinia, Sicily, Mallorca, Menorca (Spain), Gökçeada (former Imvros), the islands of Lesvos, Samothrace, Cephalonia, Crete, Corfu, Limnos, Salamina, Zakynthos, Siros, Naxos, Ikaria, Rhodes, Karpathos, Kassos, Tinos and Mykonos, and the rural region of Mani in Greece.
Individuals residing in assisted-living centers, as well as those with a clinical history of CVD or cancer were not included in the survey.
The current active sample is about 2700 older people. The participation rate varied from island to island, from 51% to 100%.
A group of health scientists (i.e. physicians, dietitians and nurses), with experience in field investigation, collected all the required information, using a quantitative questionnaire and standard procedures.
