Chapter 2

CEIS Health Report 2006
5.2.3 Results
As may be observed in Diagrams 1 and 2, where the standardized YPLL and YPLG rates
are reported (per 100.000 citizens), the contribution of the years of life potentially gained
(calculated unavoidable mortality, namely persons who die in the 5-64 years age bracket
for the above-mentioned causes), the amount of years of potential life lost (people who
die before childbirth) in our country for the year under examination is approximately
22,8% for males and 12,3% for females. Regional variations for males go from a minimum
of 18,2% in the Liguria Region, to a maximum of 31,2% in the Province of Bolzano;
for females the figure goes from a minimum of 10,5% in the Campania Region to a maximum
of 16,3% in Molise.
These figures indicate possible reduction margins through suitable prevention policies.
Since the causes of death that make up avoidable mortality are distributed differently between
men and women, it would be interesting to analyze avoidable mortality by gender:
as may be observed in Diagrams 3 and 4, while men have a high prevalence of years of
life that may be potentially gained for causes afferent to the first group (over 75% of
national male citizens, compared to slightly less than 50% of the females), in women a
strong contribution to avoidable mortality is the second group of causes (31,4% of the
national evaluation compared to 2,3% of men); the third group is about equal between
males and females (respectively 22,5% and 19,2%).
Another aspect that is worthy of attention, in order to gain knowledge and observe procedures
in the Public Healthcare Scheme, is the geographical distribution of avoidable
mortality.
As has already been pointed out in ERA (2006), our study also confirms how avoidable
mortality in Italy is characterized by a strong presence of geographical “variability” both
overall and inside the three great groups of causes.
For that which regards the first group of causes (primary prevention), the most unfavourable
situation is confirmed in the northern Regions, except for citizens from the Abruzzo
and Sardegna Regions (with figures much higher than the national average) and for
women from the Molise Region.
For the second group of causes, linked to secondary prevention, an evident geographical
gradient is not observable.
For that which regards the third group, constituted by avoidable mortality through suitable
sanitary assistance and medical care, the most unfavourable situation is confirmed in
the southern Regions compared to that of the centre and the north.
Moreover, in the present study one cause for each group of avoidable deaths has been
explained – of great importance for Public Healthcare goals: lung cancer (a pathology
which may be opposed through primary prevention actions aimed at the fight against
smoking) cervix cancer (a cause which may be opposed through widespread screening)
and ischemic heart diseases that may take advantage of efficient organization of services,
from emergency units to early treatment.
As illustrated by the diagrams demonstrating temporal trends, these three causes are
decreasing in both genders except for lung cancer in women; only going to prove that
campaigns against smoking should be particularly targeted for the female gender.
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