Epidemiologia E Prevenzione[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
[Italian Cystic Fibrosis Registry (ICFR). Report 2023-2024].
Campagna G, Amato A, Salvucci B … +11 more , Majo F, Ferrari G, Cipolli M, Fabrizi B, Magrelli A, Pierannunzio D, Taccetti G, Guarini A, Padoan R, Salvatore M, Gruppo di lavoro RIFC
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42370441 · Publisher ↗
INTRODUCTION: Italian Cystic Fibrosis Registry (ICFR) collects data of people with cystic fibrosis through the collaboration with Italian CF referral and support Centres (Italian law 548/93). It aims at analysing medium...
INTRODUCTION: Italian Cystic Fibrosis Registry (ICFR) collects data of people with cystic fibrosis through the collaboration with Italian CF referral and support Centres (Italian law 548/93). It aims at analysing medium and long-term clinical and epidemiological trends, identifying healthcare needs at regional and national levels, contributing to healthcare programs and resource allocation (sharing the population of FC centres with the Ministry of Health). Finally, the RIFC shares some of its data with the Italian Medicines Agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, AIFA) to better define the number of people with cystic fibrosis with early access to specific treatments with innovative therapies. Moreover, ICFR data are shared with the European CF Patients' Registry (ECFSPs' Registry) to contribute to the estimation of the European incidence of the pathology and to bridge knowledge gaps on specific topics as well as to the adoption of common strategies for the standardized collection of data on people with cystic fibrosis. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this report is to provide updated data from ICFR for the years 2023 and 2024. It is essential to consider that the analyses and specific studies carried out refer to a limited number of variables collected in the Registry, and that the selection of the topics covered in the chapters of this report was agreed by the scientific committee of the ICFR. STUDY DESIGN: The analyses and results presented in this report pertain to people with cystic fibrosis currently under care Italian National Referral Centres (CRR) and Support Centres (SS) for Cystic Fibrosis and Paediatric Hospital 'Bambino Gesù' (OPBG). Data are collected using web-based software adopted by almost all participating centres, except for the centres in Verona (which also includes the data from Treviso and Rovereto) and Messina, where data collection is carried out using a different software. The submitted data are then subject to both quantitative and qualitative quality control (QC) procedures, aimed at verifying the consistency and continuity of the information previously transmitted and shared with the European CF Registry. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: In the two-year period 2023-2024, 28 and 27 CF Centres, respectively, submitted their data to ICFR. However, the information from the two CF centres in Sardinia is still partial, since the data provided is limited to a small number of people with cystic fibrosis from 2023. RESULTS: The results section provides a comprehensive overview of various aspects of CF epidemiology and people with cystic fibrosis characteristics. 1. Demography: in 2023 and 2024, 6,127 and 6,182 people with cystic fibrosis were, respectively, included in the ICFR (median ages of 24.1 and 24.9 years). On average, 52.2% of people with cystic fibrosis are male, and most of the population (65.3%) is older than 18 years. This reflects the growth of the adult population, the number of paediatric people with cystic fibrosis remains almost unchanged compared to previous years. 2. DIAGNOSES: in 2024, 66.5% of the Italian CF population received a diagnosis before reaching two years of age, 61.8% within the first year of life, while 15.5% of diagnoses were made in adulthood (>18 years). New diagnoses were 103 in 2023 and 134 in 2024, with an incidence of 1 in 5,587 live births in 2023 and 1 in 8,808 in 2024. 3. GENETICS: the genetic analysis of people with cystic fibrosis was performed in 99.9% of cases. The results allowed the characterization of at least one of the two alleles in 6,040 individuals (97.7%). The most frequent variant in Italy, consistent with previous years, is F508del, present in 43.6% of cases. A higher frequency, compared with other European countries, is also confirmed for the genetic variants N1303K, G542X, and 2789+5G>A. Only 1.3% of alleles carry a CFTR gene variant that has not yet been identified (unknown). 4. Lung function: lung function, measured by percent predicted FEV1%p, declined progressively before adulthood. In detail, 96.4% (in 2023) and 95.5% (in 2024) of paediatric people with cystic fibrosis aged between 6 and 17 maintain a FEV1%p>=70%. On the other hand, the percentage of paediatric people with cystic fibrosis with severely impaired respiratory function (FEV1%p<40%) is 0.2% (2023) and 0.1% (2024). In the adult population, FEV1%p values are encouraging, with an increasing proportion of people with cystic fibrosis showing preserved lung function (85.7% in 2023 and 87.1% in 2024). This report introduces a brief focus on pulmonary exacerbations, which decreased between 2023 and 2024 (from 19.8% to 15.4%; recurrent forms from 8.6% to 4.9%), with reductions across all age groups, though less marked in those over 40. The most affected remain children (1-6 years) and those over 55; the 4.9% with recurrent episodes represent the priority for therapeutic optimization. Overall, trends in respiratory function suggest a progressive improvement in health status among the adult population, likely associated with the increasing use of new targeted pharmacological therapies. 5. Nutrition: ICFR data confirm the critical nature of the first months of life, which usually precede the definitive diagnosis of CF and the subsequent initiation of specialized care. In the 12-17 years age group, the median body max index (BMI) z-score is close to zero, documenting an adequate nutritional status in half of the subjects. The proportion of malnourished males was 6.2% and 5%, while among females it was 2.3% and 2.6%, respectively, in 2023 and 2024. In the >=18 years age group, a higher percentage of underweight BMI is observed among females (9% in 2023 and 8% in 2024) compared with males (4.2% and 4.4% in 2023 and 2024, respectively). 6. COMPLICATIONS: in 2024, in both paediatric and adult people with cystic fibrosis, the most frequent complications were the same, but occurred at different rates, such as CF-related liver disease (24.1% and 49.4%, respectively), diabetes (3.8% and 26%), and osteoporosis (4.2% and 18.7%). A total of 50 people with cystic fibrosis with cancer were recorded in 2023 and 2024, of whom 4 were of paediatric age. 7. Transplantation: over the two-year period, 21 people with cystic fibrosis underwent double-lung transplantation, with median ages of 36.2 e 36.8 years in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with ages ranging from 15.1 to 64.7 years across the two years. 8. Microbiology: in 2024, the prevalence of adult people with cystic fibrosis with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is 30.1%, while in paediatric people with cystic fibrosis is 5.5%. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus infections is 28.7% and 26.4%, respectively, in adults and paediatric people with cystic fibrosis; prevalence of infections of Burkholderia cepacia is 1.6% and 0.2%. 9. MORTALITY: in the two-year period, ICFR data show that 36 people with cystic fibrosis died (16 males and 20 females), with median ages at death of 48.3 years in 2023 and 57.2 years in 2024 (excluding transplanted people with cystic fibrosis). The crude mortality rate ranged from 3.1‰ in 2023 to 2.8‰ in 2024; excluding transplant recipients, the crude rate was 1.6‰ and 1.0‰ in the respective years. 10. Motherhood and fatherhood: over the two-year period, 80 pregnancies were recorded, of which 62 were successfully completed (77.5%). Additionally, 22 pregnancies were still ongoing as of 31.12.2024. In 2024, 25 people with cystic fibrosis became fathers. CONCLUSIONS: The present report updates data published in previous years thus summarizing 2023 and 2024 results. The number of registered people with cystic fibrosis was 6,127 in 2023 and 6,182 in 2024. Population coverage estimates for 2024 to be around 98%. Over the two-year period 2023-2024, the number and percentage of people with cystic fibrosis aged over 18 years increased. In detail, the ICFR recorded 3,927 adult people with cystic fibrosis (64.1%) in 2023 and 4,034 (65.3%) in 2024. An increase in the median age of Italian people with cystic fibrosis has been observed over time, reaching 24.9 years in 2024. The absolute number of new diagnoses per year is comparable with that of the previous biennium (237 vs 234); the percentage of new diagnosis in adulthood was 39.6% in 2024. In 2024, the median age at diagnosis was 3.9 months; 61.8% of subjects are diagnosed within the first year of life; 95.1% of them were identified through neonatal screening. Analysis of different CFTR genotypes in the Italian CF population confirms the high allelic variability observed in Italy, with a substantial proportion of subjects not eligible for CFTR modulator therapy. Regarding respiratory function, findings are consistent with previous reports, showing an increasing percentage of subjects under the age of 18 with a normal respiratory function. This marked improvement observed in the adult population seems to be mainly due to the introduction of highly effective CFTR modulator therapies in Italy from 2021. In 2024, a reduction in the percentage of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was observed in both adults (30.1% vs 38.8% in 2020) and paediatric people with cystic fibrosis (5.5% vs 7.6% in 2020). Liver disease remains the most frequent complication in both paediatric and adult populations, affecting 24.1% and 49.4% of people with cystic fibrosis, respectively. During the two-year period, 36 people with cystic fibrosis died with a median age at death between 48.3 and 57.2 years (transplant people with cystic fibrosis excluded). Only one transplanted people with cystic fibrosis under the age of 18 died in the period 2023 and 2024, confirming once again that mortality in paediatric age is a rare event. Finally, for the first time, this report introduces data related to maternity and paternity, highlighting that in more than 77% of cases pregnancies were successful; as well as estimates of tumour and pulmonary exacerbations incidence as possible complications.
[Multicenter experience of the Lombardy Health Protection Agencies (ATS) in the application of an algorithm to estimate disability prevalence and profiles based on routine administrative data: from data sharing to regional-level analysis].
Greco MT, Gabellini E, Cavalieri d'Oro L … +8 more , Fanetti AC, Gambino ML, Gasparotti C, Dalle Carbonare S, Villa M, Zucchi A, Russo AG, Gruppo di lavoro "Disabilità"
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42312632 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: to apply, at the regional level, the algorithm developed by the Health Protection Agency (ATS) of the Metropolitan City of Milan to identify people with disabilities through the integration of routinely colle...
OBJECTIVES: to apply, at the regional level, the algorithm developed by the Health Protection Agency (ATS) of the Metropolitan City of Milan to identify people with disabilities through the integration of routinely collected health and social care databases; to produce annual prevalence estimates and describe their territorial distribution (across ATS jurisdictions and districts), as well as the main classification characteristics according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF-2018), a framework that characterizes an individual's health status through the coding of body functions and structures, activities, and participation. DESIGN: retrospective observational study based on administrative data. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: residents in Lombardy Region (Northern Italy), which is divided into 8 ATSs and 86 districts, during the period 2018-2024. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: annual period prevalence of disability; sex differences; contribution of data flows; ICF-2018 classification combinations. RESULTS: in 2024, 1,083,538 people with disability were identified (10.8% of the regional population). Prevalence ranged across ATSs from 9.6% to 16.9%, and across districts from 6.3% to 19.8%. The largest overall contributions came from outpatient claims (28-SAN), hospital discharge records (SDO), exemption registries, and major prosthetics, with heterogeneity across ATSs. The most frequent ICF-2018 combination was "Structures of the nervous system/Mental functions" identified exclusively in healthcare flows. CONCLUSIONS: integrating healthcare and sociohealthcare flows within a shared ICF framework enables comparable small-area disability estimates to support integrated planning. Clinical validation and systematic monitoring of data quality are needed to strengthen the algorithm use.
[Errata corrige Errata corrige Epidemiol Prev 2026;50(1):37-47].
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42231866 · Publisher ↗
Nell'articolo: Lo Presti T, Marras A, Usticano A et al. La sorveglianza epidemiologica nel programma regionale di interventi sanitari nei siti di interesse nazionale per le bonifiche della Sicilia: un aggiornamento della...
Nell'articolo: Lo Presti T, Marras A, Usticano A et al. La sorveglianza epidemiologica nel programma regionale di interventi sanitari nei siti di interesse nazionale per le bonifiche della Sicilia: un aggiornamento della mortalità e dell'ospedalizzazione. (Epidemiol Prev 2026;50(1):37-47. doi: 10.19191/EP26.1.A804.007) fra gli autori è stata per errore omessa Alessandra Allotta (Dipartimento per le Attività Sanitarie e Osservatorio Epidemiologico (DASOE), Assessorato della Salute, Regione Siciliana, Palermo).
[Changes in agri-food production systems and nutritional profile of foods (1930-2024)].
Guccione D
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42231865 · Publisher ↗
In the last decades, agriculture and animal husbandry in industrialized countries underwent a deep transformation. Extensive systems gave way to intensive, mechanized models driven by genetic and technical innovations th...
In the last decades, agriculture and animal husbandry in industrialized countries underwent a deep transformation. Extensive systems gave way to intensive, mechanized models driven by genetic and technical innovations that multiplied productive capacity. Food became more abundant, supply chains more stable. This also raises a question that today appears far from secondary. If cultivated varieties, yields, production factors, and the criteria used to select plants and animals are changing, does this alter also the nutritional composition of the foods we consume?This paper reviews available evidence on seven foods representing different trajectories in the agri-food system: apple, tomato, potato, carrot among plant products; chicken, pork, beef among meats. The timeframe spans from the 1930s to the present. For plant foods, yields increased three to five folds, while several studies report declines in selected micronutrients, often between 5% and 40%. The dilution effect is the most common explanation of this phenomenon. For meats, outcomes depend on selection goals: broiler chicken shows higher fat and lower protein density, while pork moved in the opposite direction.What emerges is that upstream choices in fields and farms shape not only the volume of the production, but also what the final product actually contains. This has implications for estimating actual nutrient intakes, for the composition tables we rely on, and for the criteria guiding genetic improvement.
["Tell me a story": the use of storytelling for the prevention of workplace injuries].
Caruso G, Pasqualini O, Marino M … +1 more , Gilardi L
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42231864 · Publisher ↗
In 2012, the 'Workplace Injury Stories' project was developed. Within this project, professionals from the Occupational Health and Safety Prevention Services of Local Health Authorities in Piedmont and Lombardy Regions (...
In 2012, the 'Workplace Injury Stories' project was developed. Within this project, professionals from the Occupational Health and Safety Prevention Services of Local Health Authorities in Piedmont and Lombardy Regions (Northern Italy) and in Marche Region (Central Italy) transformed occupational injury investigation reports into narrative stories. This study aimed to explore the contexts in which injury stories are used, their application in training settings, and their contribution to preventive activities.An online survey was administered to 225 professionals involved in the project, and three focus groups were conducted. Among 135 respondents (60%), 25 participated in the focus groups. Injury stories were mainly used for training purposes, most commonly through lectures combined with group work using innovative approaches such as role play and theatrical performances, and as case studies in peer discussions and during inspection activities also emerged. In training settings, injury stories promoted identification and empathy, supporting reflection on preventive actions. These findings support the use of narrative-based training for the continuing education of workers and prevention professionals.
[A gravity model approach to the network of Centres for Assistance and Urgency and Emergency Department in Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy): a tool to support equitable access planning].
Iannuzzi D, Catananti R, Fortino A … +4 more , Randazzo MP, Spinardi L, Valente A, Catania D
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42231863 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: in Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy), over 60% of emergency room (ER) visits involve low-complexity cases, with a hospitalization rate of less than 5%, in line with the national trend. In 2023-2024, to i...
BACKGROUND: in Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy), over 60% of emergency room (ER) visits involve low-complexity cases, with a hospitalization rate of less than 5%, in line with the national trend. In 2023-2024, to improve system efficiency and ensure more appropriate use of hospital resources, the Region established 42 Centres for Assistance and Urgency (CAU) to handle minor emergencies. OBJECTIVES: to estimate the impact of this reorganization on healthcare service accessibility developing a gravitational model based on an adapted version of the Modified Huff Three-Step Floating Catchment Area (MH3SFCA). DESIGN: an observational and modelling study was implemented and adapted to the healthcare context, focusing on emergency department (ED) and Centres for Asisstance and Urgency (CAU) access flows in the Emilia-Romagna Region in 2024. The study was structured into three phases: 1. calculation of access probability (using the Huff probability model); 2. estimation of the regional network's service capacity; 3. computation of the accessibility index to the network. To implement the gravitational model, distance matrices were employed - constructed on road networks - to accurately estimate travel times and distances between municipalities and healthcare facilities. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: admission to ERs CAUs in Emilia-Romagna in 2023-2024. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: theoretical accessibility to network facilities, expressed as a composite municipal-level index; model performance assessed through R² and Weighted Mean Absolute Error (WMAE). RESULTS: the model integrates variables such as travel times, mobility propensity, and inter-municipal attractiveness. The results show good predictive performance and an accessibility distribution with higher values in peripheral municipalities. CONCLUSIONS: the proposed model serves as an operational tool to support healthcare planning by assessing territorial equity in access to services and simulating alternative scenarios in the planning process.
[Distress during adolescence: a gender-based approach].
Bersia M, Bietta C, Primieri C … +8 more , Domenicano I, Emanuelli F, Narducci R, Ferrara M, Fortuna D, Miligi L, Papa E, Ferroni E
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42231862 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
[Wars, oil, climate, and health: renewable energy to end the era of fossil fuels and conflicts].
Forastiere F
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42231861 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
[Prostate cancer: the phoenix of population screening. Evidence, controversies and organisational perspectives in the experience of the Lombardy Region].
Cereda D, Deandrea S, Zeduri M … +16 more , Piccinelli S, Viscardi M, Tettamanzi E, Russo AG, Odone A, Rocco B, Salonia A, Galfano A, Talmelli C, Azzolini E, Naspro R, Renzi C, Colombo P, Melazzini M, Gruppo di coordinamento regionale screening oncologici sezione prostata, Gruppo di coordinamento regionale screening oncologici sezione prostata
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42021624 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Natural Language Clinical Pathways for Automated Coding of Topography and Morphology in Cancer Registries: Leveraging Healthcare Dataflows through the LN-PDTA Algorithm.
Zanfino A, Buzzoni C, Russo AG
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42021623 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: cancer registries (CRs) are essential tools for oncological surveillance. The accurate coding of topography and morphology (through ICD-O-3 coding), traditionally performed manually, is complex and time-consu...
BACKGROUND: cancer registries (CRs) are essential tools for oncological surveillance. The accurate coding of topography and morphology (through ICD-O-3 coding), traditionally performed manually, is complex and time-consuming. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities to automate this process, overcoming the limitations of existing algorithms, which often focus only on topography. OBJECTIVES: to develop an AI-based algorithm capable of automatically assigning the combined topography-morphology (topo-morpho) code from a synthetic clinical pathway expressed in natural language (LN-PDTA). DESIGN: retrospective observational study based on integrated registry and healthcare administrative data. Deterministic record linkage was performed among the CR, administrative databases, and pathology reports (AP), considering clinical events within ±180 days from incidence date. Clinical information (diagnoses, pharmacological therapies, surgical procedures, causes of death, pathology codes) was transformed into chronological clinical tokens concatenated into a single string. The target variable was the combined topo-morpho code assigned by registry coders. An LSTM neural network (embedding=64, hidden=128) was trained to learn token sequences. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: incident cancer cases recorded by the Cancer Registry of the Agency for Health Protection of the Metropolitan Area of Milan in 2017-2018; multiple, benign, and uncertain tumors were excluded. Main outcome measures: accuracy in the prediction of topography, morphology, and combined topo-morpho. Precision, recall, and F1 score at different confidence thresholds. Secondary analysis for high-incidence cancer sites and identification of the most predictive tokens and information sources. RESULTS: the dataset included 34,168 cases, split 80:20 into training and test sets. On the test set, the model achieved 89% accuracy for topography prediction, 59% for morphology, and 56% for the combined topo-morpho classification. Performances were better for highly frequent sites (breast 73%; colorectal 61%). For lung and prostate cancers, accuracy for topography reached 94% and 98%, respectively. The most predictive tokens and information sources were identified: pathology reports, mortality data, and surgical procedures for topography; pathology reports, hospital discharge diagnoses, and mortality for morphology. CONCLUSIONS: the LN-PDTA-based neural network approach shows promising results for the most frequent topographies and morphologies, thus enabling automatic coding of a fair number of cases, reducing manual coding time and supporting more efficient cancer registry operations.
Diabetes, disease management, and risk of mortality by immigrant status: a population-based cohort study in Reggio Emilia Province (Northern Italy).
Leoni F, Bononi F, Venturelli F … +8 more , Bonvicini L, Vicentini M, Petrelli A, Pierconti S, Amedei Modesti P, Pellegrino A, Perticone M, Manicardi E
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 42021622 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: migration is reshaping the epidemiology of chronic diseases in Europe. Although ethnicity is a known determinant of diabetes burden, evidence on diabetes prevalence, care pathways, and mortality across differ...
BACKGROUND: migration is reshaping the epidemiology of chronic diseases in Europe. Although ethnicity is a known determinant of diabetes burden, evidence on diabetes prevalence, care pathways, and mortality across different migrant groups remains limited. OBJECTIVES: to compare diabetes prevalence, clinical management, and mortality between Italians and migrants from High Migration Pressure Countries (HMPC) in Reggio Emilia (Northern Italy). DESIGN: population-based study with a cross-sectional analysis and a cohort analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: the data used in this study have been extracted from the Reggio Emilia Diabetes Registry and stratified by geographic area of citizenship: Italy, High Developed Countries (HDC), and HMPC (further divided by geographic area). Principal outcome measures: a cross-sectional analysis (31.12.2024) was performed to estimate age-standardized prevalence of Type 1 (T1DM) and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and to assess care management indicators (shared care vs exclusive specialist care) among residents. Additionally, a cohort analysis (2019-2024) evaluated all-cause mortality. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: T2DM age-standardized prevalence was significantly higher in HMPC citizens compared to Italians (females: 9.7% vs 5.0%; males: 11.4% vs 7.7%), peaking in South Asians (F: 18.3%; M: 15.7%). By contrast, T1DM prevalence was lower in HMPC. Regarding management, immigrants were less likely to be under formal diabetes care compared to Italians; when treated, HMPC patients were more frequently managed exclusively by specialist clinics rather than through shared care with General Practitioners. T2DM was associated with increased all-cause mortality in all groups. Compared to their non-diabetic counterparts, the excess mortality risk was higher in specific migrant groups than in Italians (HR 2.25): East Asians (HR 5.69), and South Asians (HR 3.15) showed the largest survival disadvantage. Among non-diabetic individuals, the survival advantage typically associated with the 'healthy migrant effect' was not observed in people aged under 50. CONCLUSIONS: substantial heterogeneity exists in diabetes burden, care organization, and mortality across migrant groups. Differences likely reflect both biological susceptibility and structural barriers to primary care access. Tailored public health strategies are needed to reduce inequalities in diabetes outcomes.
[Errata corrige Epidemiol Prev 2023;47(1-2) Suppl 1].
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 41854010 · Publisher ↗
In data 10.02.2026 è stata caricata la nuova versione del volume SENTIERI - Studio epidemiologico nazionale dei territori e degli insediamenti esposti a rischio da inquinamento. Sesto Rapporto (Epidemiol Prev 2023;47(1-2...
In data 10.02.2026 è stata caricata la nuova versione del volume SENTIERI - Studio epidemiologico nazionale dei territori e degli insediamenti esposti a rischio da inquinamento. Sesto Rapporto (Epidemiol Prev 2023;47(1-2) Suppl 1. doi: 10.19191/EP23.1-2-S1.003) nella quale è stata aggiornata la tabella AVB_1 (p. 239) relativa alla SIN "Area industriale Val Basento".alla World Health Organization (WHO). Di conseguenza, è stato modificato il paragrafo "Health impact estimation" a p. 14. I PDF nei quali sono segnalate le modifiche sono disponibili alla pagina dell'articolo.
[Epidemiology at the times of big data and populism].
Forastiere F
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 41854009 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
[The 'Terra dei Fuochi' ruling: A new role for epidemiology in legal proceedings on environmental crimes].
Zirulia S, Barone-Adesi F
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 41854008 · Publisher ↗
On 30 January 2025, the European Court of Human Rights condemned the Italian Government for failing to safeguard the right to life of residents in ninety municipalities in the Campania region, an area known as 'Terra dei...
On 30 January 2025, the European Court of Human Rights condemned the Italian Government for failing to safeguard the right to life of residents in ninety municipalities in the Campania region, an area known as 'Terra dei Fuochi' (literally: Land of Fires). This judgment is historic for two main reasons. First and foremost, it represents the first judicial recognition of severe, decades-long environmental and health deterioration affecting a specific territory. Second, it establishes a significant precedent for environmental litigation, marking the first time the Court has unequivocally affirmed that epidemiological evidence collected within a defined area is sufficient to demonstrate a violation of the right to life of the populations living there. This stance adopted by the Court gives rise to a series of important legal implications: it strengthens the basis for prosecuting environmental crimes and encourages the development of innovative investigative projects that move beyond individual-level data; such projects can capture the collective harms suffered by affected communities and help determine whether these harms can be traced to actions or omissions by public authorities or private-sector actors.
[Disability inclusion in "One Health Citizen Science" Project: experience in Sardinia Region (Southern Italy)].
Cori L, Curzio O, Bianchi F … +9 more , Saurra M, Palomba F, Pitzalis RA, Ghiani S, Madeddu M, Sira C, Mocci E, Quaglia Meloni S, Minerba L
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 41854007 · Publisher ↗
As part of the 'One Health Citizen Science' (OHCS) project, which aims to encourage data collection and health promotion in areas of high environmental risk, particular importance has been given to citizen participation....
As part of the 'One Health Citizen Science' (OHCS) project, which aims to encourage data collection and health promotion in areas of high environmental risk, particular importance has been given to citizen participation. This article describes the pilot activity carried out in Sulcis Iglesiente, an area of Sardinia known for its various environmental pressures, which is the result of collaboration among the University of Cagliari, the Italian National Research Council and the Anffas Foundation, an association that supports people with intellectual disabilities and neurological development disorders. Interdisciplinary pathways were created to support informed participation of people with intellectual disabilities on the risks of the territory in which they live. To achieve this goal, appropriate scientific methods were used through accessible language and with the mediation of professional educators. In designing the sustainability of this citizen science activity over time, the promoters also included policy makers in the dialogue to provide them with concrete and more representative bases on which to base their decisions.
[Digital twins and virtual cohorts: How is synthetic data used for real-world evidence?].
Rosa AC, Belleudi V
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 41854006 · Publisher ↗
Synthetic data are artificially generated information with the aim of imitating real data. They are designed to preserve the statistical characteristics of the original population while ensuring high levels of privacy, w...
Synthetic data are artificially generated information with the aim of imitating real data. They are designed to preserve the statistical characteristics of the original population while ensuring high levels of privacy, which makes them particularly useful in contexts where confidentiality is crucial. Measuring the value of synthetic data means assessing the similarity with the original data, the ability to produce results comparable to those obtained with real data, and the potential risks of privacy breaches. However, some risks remain, including the possible re-identification of individuals, the danger of amplification of biases already present in the original data, and the difficulty in validating the quality of synthetically generated data. At present, synthetic data represent an emerging and promising technology in various fields, however their use in epidemiology, particularly in observational settings, is still debated and requires further investigation and evaluation.
Viral markers in tumour samples from 53 Italian cases of epithelial upper airways cancers.
Briscolini S, Ciuti F, Massacesi S … +3 more , Cucco L, Calisti R, Paniccià M
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 41854005 · Publisher ↗
The web of causation of the upper airways cancers (UAC) is complex and, at present, only partially defined; certainly, a wide range of airborne viruses and chemicals is therein (with varying degrees of evidence) involved...
The web of causation of the upper airways cancers (UAC) is complex and, at present, only partially defined; certainly, a wide range of airborne viruses and chemicals is therein (with varying degrees of evidence) involved. Within the perspective of subsequent formal studies about this topic, a small case-series pilot has been performed, searching Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) 18 and 16 markers in a set of tumour samples from 53 patients diagnosed with different types of primary epithelial UAC. Overall, the prevalence of positive tests for EBV, HCMV, and HPV18 was 24.5%, 5.5% and 5.5%, respectively. EBV tested positive in 10 nasopharyngeal carcinomas (including 1 adenocarcinoma), 2 nasal carcinomas (including 1 adenocarcinoma), and 2 sinus carcinomas (both adenocarcinomas); HCMV tested positive in 3 nasal carcinomas (including 2 adenocarcinomas); HPV18 tested positive in 1 nasal adeno carcinoma and 2 sinus adenocarcinomas. Future studies are warranted to shed light on the complex aetiology of UAC, by integrating the best pathological evidence and systematic acquisition of standardized anamnestic data, meanwhile taking in consideration both the viral presence in the cancer tissues and the patients' self-referred exposures to particles and vapours.
The burden of disease in Italy, 1990-2023: a subnational analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
Zamagni G, Armocida B, Castelpietra G … +12 more , Conti S, Cortesi PA, Ferrara P, Fornari C, Gallus S, Leonardi M, Passera R, Perico N, Raggi A, Remuzzi G, Ronfani L, Monasta L
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 41854004 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: to provide a comprehensive and comparable assessment of life expectancy (LE), health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE), Years Lived with Disability (YLDs), Years of Life Lost (YLLs), and Disability-Adjusted Lif...
OBJECTIVES: to provide a comprehensive and comparable assessment of life expectancy (LE), health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE), Years Lived with Disability (YLDs), Years of Life Lost (YLLs), and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) across Italian regions from 1990 to 2023, identifying temporal, geographical, and sex-specific patterns to inform targeted public health strategies. DESIGN: descriptive epidemiological study using estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2023. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: the analysis covered the Italian population, stratified by sex, five macro-regions, and 21 subnational locations, including 19 Regions and 2 Autonomous Provinces. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: LE, HALE, all-age and age-standardized rates YLDs, YLLs, and DALYs per 100,000 population; all estimates were presented with their 95% uncertainty intervals. RESULTS: between 1990 and 2023, LE increased substantially across all regions and in both sexes, despite the temporary decline associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the highest LE was recorded in the North-East, with 81.4 years (95%CI 81.1-81.6) for males and 85.8 years (95%CI 85.6-86.1) for females, while the lowest values were found in the Islands, at 79.7 years (95%CI 79.3-80.1) for males and 84.2 years (95%CI 83.9-84.5) for females. However, differences diminished when considering HALE. YLDs increased steadily over time, reflecting not only population ageing but also the expanding burden of chronic and non-fatal conditions. In contrast, YLLs declined markedly in both sexes, driven particularly by substantial reductions in mortality from neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases. However, in 2023, ischemic heart disease remained the leading contributor to all-age DALYs among males, while Alzheimer's disease was the top cause among females. Anxiety disorders represented the leading cause of age-standardized DALYs in females and showed marked increases since 1990. Among males, ischemic heart disease continued to appear as the primary cause of age-standardized DALYs. CONCLUSIONS: health in Italy improved substantially over the past three decades, primarily due to declining premature mortality. However, the burden of disability increased, particularly among women, and important geographical and sex-specific inequalities persist. Strengthening prevention policies, addressing behavioural and metabolic risk factors and mental health, improving long-term care, and promoting healthy ageing are essential to reducing health disparities.
A real-world simulation of the fertility trend among women with endometriosis in Italy.
Indraccolo U, Scutiero G, Favilli A
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 41854003 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: to model a real-world probability curve of fertility rates in non-endometriotic and endometriotic women using demographic data and information from Italy. DESIGN: probabilistic simulation built from available...
OBJECTIVES: to model a real-world probability curve of fertility rates in non-endometriotic and endometriotic women using demographic data and information from Italy. DESIGN: probabilistic simulation built from available data of Italian population. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: data from the Italian population of the years 2020-2023 were collected on: 1. the actual desire for pregnancy; 2. the infertility rate and outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART); 3. the age at which endometriosis is diagnosed and the impact of endometriosis treatments on fertility; 4. the infertility rate in endometriotic patients and outcomes of ART; 5. the natural decline in fertility with age in women. Data for points 1 to 3 were obtained from Italian institutional websites, while points 4 and 5 were estimated from scientific literature. Normalized estimates of cumulative pregnancy rates and live birth rates in Italian non-endometriotic and endometriotic women were calculated based on Italian family planning behaviour and endometriosis medical care issues. These estimates were combined and plotted by female aging to observe trends. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: age-specific fertility trends in endometriotic and non-endometriotic Italian women. RESULTS: treated endometriotic patients show a reduction in fertility potential compared to non-endometriotic and untreated endometriotic patients. CONCLUSIONS: the decline of fertility in Italian endometriotic women is mainly iatrogenic. Women with endometriosis should consider conceiving at a young age.
[Inspection and workplace fatalities: between expectations and reality].
Valentini D, Libener M, Caruso G … +2 more , Tisi M, Pasqualini O
Epidemiol Prev · 2026 · PMID 41854002 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the preventability of workplace fatalities that occurred in Piedmont Region (Northern Italy) through inspections by Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) inspectors. It was examined whether an insp...
OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the preventability of workplace fatalities that occurred in Piedmont Region (Northern Italy) through inspections by Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) inspectors. It was examined whether an inspection carried out the day before the event could have avoided the injury, and also differences in its impact across various sectors were investigated. DESIGN: descriptive study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: workplace injury investigations conducted by OSH inspectors on fatalities that occurred in Piedmont from 2002 to 2022, classified according to the InforMo method. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: using a group of validated criteria of preventability, fatalities were divided into three categories: probably preventable, probably not preventable, and uncertain. RESULTS: two-thirds of the 786 workers who died were employed in construction and agriculture, while the remaining third worked in manufacturing and other sectors. The analysis on the preventability of fatalities indicates that, in at least half and up to two thirds of the cases, an inspection carried out the previous day probably could not have prevented the fatality. Interviews with OSH inspectors confirmed the validity of the criteria adopted to classify the preventability of injuries. CONCLUSIONS: the results suggest that, although inspections can play a significant role in preventing workplace fatalities, a considerable portion of them probably could not have been avoided with a hypothetical inspection the day before the event. To corroborate this result, it is necessary to extend the analysis to fatalities occurring in other Regions. Nevertheless, it is necessary to strengthen the contribution of the various actors envisaged by Legislative Decree 81/2008 and Legislative Decree 626/1994 (RSPP, RLS, etc.) to improve significantly the workplace safety.
About
- Frequency
- Sun
- Papers found
- 200
- RSS feed
- Subscribe