The potential for a concerted system for the rapid monitoring of excess mortality throughout Europe.

We present the results of a survey conducted in the context of the project European Monitoring of Excess Mortality for Public Health Action (EuroMOMO), which is being conducted to develop a routine public health mortality monitoring system for the timely detection of excess deaths related to public health threats in Europe. The survey was conducted in 32 European countries using two questionnaires on: i) the existing and planned mortality monitoring systems, and ii) the routine collection of mortality data. Nine existing mortality monitoring systems were identified in seven countries (Belgium, Germany, France (two systems), Italy (two systems), Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland), as well as several systems that were in a pilot or planning state. Each system is described in detail. The results will be used for the subsequent phases of EuroMOMO, in particular for identifying the minimum requirements for the planned European system and for selecting countries to be included in the project's pilot phase.

Cause-specific mortality in classic Kaposi's sarcoma: a population-based study in Italy (1995-2002).

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the causes of death among persons with classic Kaposi's sarcoma (CKS). METHODS: We conducted a population-based study in Italy to identify deceased persons with CKS and the underlying causes of death among them, by reviewing multiple-causes-of-death records. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to compare the distribution of causes to that among the same-age general population of deceased persons. The geographical distribution was also evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 946 deaths among persons with CKS, 65.9% were attributable to non-neoplastic conditions and 21.9% to malignancies. For 12.2%, no lethal pathology was identified and CKS was considered as the underlying cause. In 90% of these cases, there was visceral/nodal involvement, therapy-related complications, or neoplastic cachexia. Among persons with CKS who died of other causes, an excess for lymphoid malignancies emerged (SMR=4.40) (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (11.03), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (4.22), Hodgkin's lymphoma (11.80), and multiple myeloma (2.3)), balanced by a deficit for all solid cancers (0.56), with a marked deficit for lung cancer (0.41). We found an excess for respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.86)) and genitourinary diseases (chronic renal failure (6.47)). There was marked geographical heterogeneity in the distribution of deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Though referring specifically to Italy, the results are informative for other countries and populations and all cases of CKS in general.

Immigration and health: the Italian situation. Italian National Focal Point (NFP) of the AIDS & Mobility Project.

This report is a description of the situation of migrant populations in Italy. It was written as part of the European project "AIDS & Mobility", which is being co-ordinated by the Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and financed by the European Union (EU). The report was written by the Italian National Focal Point (NFP) of the AIDS & Mobility Project, which consists of a committed team of experts from public institutions, non-governmental organizations, volunteer associations, and researchers from the Telefono Verde AIDS (National AIDS Help-line of Italy) of the Centro Operativo AIDS (COA, National AIDS Unit of Italy) of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. The report illustrates the phenomenon of immigration in Italy, with demographic data (updated at 31 December 1997) on the presence of non-Italians and a review of the current laws pertinent to this phenomenon, with particular reference to health care laws. Moreover, epidemiological data on HIV/AIDS and on sexually transmitted diseases are provided, particularly as they relate to drug addiction and prostitution. Finally, following an accurate analysis of the situation and in light of the experience gained, the report includes proposals for identifying needs, objectives to pursue, and strategies to adopt, with respect to confronting the issue of immigration.