Causes of mortality across different immigrant groups in Northeastern Italy

Background. Despite massive immigration towards Southern Europe in the last two decades, data on mortality by cause among immigrants in Italy are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate mortality from all and from specific causes of death among immigrants residing in the Veneto Region (Northeastern Italy). Methods. Mortality records for the period 2008-2013 were extracted from the regional archive of causes of death, whereas population data were obtained from the 2011 Italian census. Immigrants were grouped by area of provenience based on the information on country of citizenship available both in mortality and census data. Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were computed for the period 2008-2013 in subjects aged 20-59 years, with rates of Italian citizens as a reference. Results. Overall mortality was reduced both in male (SMR 0.86, CI [0.80-0.92]) and female immigrants (SMR 0.72, CI [0.65-0.78]), although an increased risk was observed for subjects from Sub-Saharan Africa. Significantly raised SMR for circulatory diseases were found among Sub-Saharan Africans and Southern Asians in both genders. Sub-Saharan Africans experienced a higher risk of death, especially from cerebrovascular diseases: SMR 4.78 (CI [2.67-7.89]) and SMR 6.09 (CI [1.96-14.2]) in males and females, respectively. Among Southern Asians, the increase in mortality from ischemic heart diseases reached statistical significance in males (SMR 2.53, CI [1.42-4.18]). In spite of a lower risk of death for all neoplasms combined, mortality from cancer of cervix uteri was increased among immigrants (SMR 2.61, CI [1.35-4.56]), as well as for other cancer sites in selected immigrant groups. A raised mortality was found for infectious diseases in Sub-Saharan Africans (both genders), and for transport accidents among females from Eastern Europe. Conclusion. Our study showed great variations in mortality by cause and area of provenience among immigrants resident in the Veneto Region and highlighted specific health issues that should be addressed through tailored efforts in chronic diseases prevention.