Recruitment focused on Lanusei—the largest town in Ogliastra, the location of its only hospital, and site of the local bishopric—and the neighboring towns of Ilbono, Arzana, and Elini. To achieve our goal of recruiting more than 6,000 individuals from the region, the project was advertised through provincial, religious, and municipal authorities, in local television, newspaper, and radio messages, through local physicians, and by mailings and phone calls. Only individuals more than 13 y of age were eligible to participate in the study.
