biostudies-literatureUnknown24(1)Petrelli A<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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.<h4>Results</h4>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.<h4>Conclusions</h4>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.BMC public health757https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10929136biostudies-literatureSocioeconomic inequalities in avoidable mortality in Italy: results from a nationwide longitudinal cohort.PMC10929136Simeoni SVentura MFrova LPetrelli ADi Napoli APappagallo MfalseSocioeconomic inequalities in avoidable mortality in Italy: results from a nationwide longitudinal cohort.<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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.<h4>Results</h4>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.<h4>Conclusions</h4>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.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Mar2025-04-26T14:24:48.237Z2025-04-06T14:33:57ZS-EPMC109291363846822910.1186/s12889-024-18205-6