[SENTIERI Project: materials and methods]

The Report considers three health outcomes - mortality, cancer incidence and hospital discharges - studied using homogenous methods and using data from official sources, namely the National Institute of Statistics (Istat), Italian Network of Cancer Registries (AIRTUM) and the Health Ministry. The timeframes of observation are: 2003-2010 for mortality, 1996-2005 for cancer incidence and 2005-2010 for hospital discharges. The causes of death are those examined by the SENTIERI Project. Hospital discharges are analysed with reference to the main diagnosis. The study of cancer incidence applies to the sites selected by AIRTUM. Statistical parameters (SMR, Standardized Mortality Ratio; SIR, Standardized Incidence Ratio; SHR, Standardized Hospitalization Ratio) were computed with a 90% confidence interval; the estimators were adjusted for age and socioeconomic status.