@article{ref1,
title="Socioeconomic inequalities in avoidable mortality in Italy: results from a nationwide longitudinal cohort",
journal="BMC public health",
year="2024",
author="Petrelli, Alessio and Ventura, Martina and Di Napoli, Anteo and Pappagallo, Marilena and Simeoni, Silvia and Frova, Luisa",
volume="24",
number="1",
pages="e757-e757",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Disparities in avoidable mortality have never been evaluated in Italy at the national level. The present study aimed to assess the association between socioeconomic status and avoidable mortality. <br><br>METHODS: The nationwide closed cohort of the 2011 Census of Population and Housing was followed up for 2012-2019 mortality. Outcomes of preventable and of treatable mortality were separately evaluated among people aged 30-74. Education level (elementary school or less, middle school, high school diploma, university degree or more) and residence macro area (North-West, North-East, Center, South-Islands) were the exposures, for which adjusted mortality rate ratios (MRRs) were calculated through multivariate quasi-Poisson regression models, adjusted for age at death. Relative index of inequalities was estimated for preventable, treatable, and non-avoidable mortality and for some specific causes. <br><br>RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 35,708,459 residents (48.8% men, 17.5% aged 65-74), 34% with a high school diploma, 33.5% living in the South-Islands; 1,127,760 deaths were observed, of which 65.2% for avoidable causes (40.4% preventable and 24.9% treatable). Inverse trends between education level and mortality were observed for all causes; comparing the least with the most educated groups, a strong association was observed for preventable (males MRR = 2.39; females MRR = 1.65) and for treatable causes of death (males MRR = 1.93; females MRR = 1.45). The greatest inequalities were observed for HIV/AIDS and alcohol-related diseases (both sexes), drug-related diseases and tuberculosis (males), and diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and renal failure (females). Excess risk of preventable and of treatable mortality were observed for the South-Islands. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic inequalities in mortality persist in Italy, with an extremely varied response to policies at the regional level, representing a possible missed gain in health and suggesting a reassessment of priorities and definition of health targets.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-2458",
doi="10.1186/s12889-024-18205-6",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18205-6"
}