Decentralization Matters: Association of Adherence to Treatment and Distance for the Management of Non-Communicable Diseases in Rural Tanzania.

Since March 2019, a non-communicable diseases program has been established at hospital level, with enrollment and clinical reassessment every 6 months. Since July 2023, monthly enrollment and visits have also been conducted at health center level. This study aimed at assessing the adherence to scheduled follow-up visits following the decentralization of the integrated NCDs program from Hospital to Health Center level and investigate factors influencing follow-up adherence.

Impact of local food consumption on exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate in a contaminated community in North-Eastern Italy.

Objectives: to estimate the contribution of locally-grown food consumption to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) human exposure.

Design: residents of a PFAS-contaminated community of the Veneto Region (North-Eastern Italy) were categorized into two exposure groups, which refer to the period after the determination of serum levels of PFOA and PFOS conducted at baseline: 1. people drinking water filtered with double granular activated carbon (GAC) and not consuming locally-grown foods at all (reference group); 2.

PFOA and testis cancer in the Veneto Region (Italy).

The largest documented episode of human contamination by PFOA in the world (approximately 150,000 actual residents on 1 January 2020) has occurred in Italy's Veneto Region. In this large, mostly flat plain area, a cluster of testicular cancers has also been observed. Preliminary data are reported, and the most relevant and recent recommendations regarding the health surveillance of exposed individuals are emphasized.

Widening Disparities in Teen HPV Vaccinations during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study from Veneto Region (Italy).

Introduction: In Local Health Unit 7, human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination campaigns for 12-year-olds have long been implemented by the vaccination services of the Department of Prevention. Due to the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic on these services, an emergency vaccination campaign was directly managed by primary care pediatricians (PCPs). An initial evaluation of this experience was conducted.

Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (delta) variant in a nursing home 28 weeks after two doses of mRNA anti-COVID-19 vaccines: evidence of a waning immunity.

Objectives: To describe a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.617.

dTap vaccination uptake during pregnancy: Pregnant women-focused and health professionals-focused predictors in the Veneto Region (Italy).

Background: Despite recommendations, the uptake of dTap maternal vaccination is still low in many countries. The reasons for this must be investigated both on the patient's and the healthcare professionals' sides.

Methods: A record linkage study was performed linking Birth Assitance Certificates and dTap mothers' vaccination records (5183 deliveries) to describe the influence of socioeconomical and obstetrical-gynecological factors after the recommendations concerning dTap vaccination in pregnancy issued by the Italian Ministry of Health (August 2018).

Rubella immunity status and the active offer of MMR/MMRV vaccination during pregnancy.

Introduction: The rubella test during pregnancy makes it possible to identify situations at risk of congenital rubella and those pregnant mothers who should be offered the MMR vaccine.

Materials And Methods: The Authors analysed test coverage and the immunity status of pregnant mothers between 2005 and 2017, using birth attendance certificates.

Results: Rubella test coverage on 61,437 pregnant mothers was 99.

[Lifestyles and alterations of finger-stick glucose and cholesterol and blood pressure among fifty-year-old Italian and foreign residents in the Alto Vicentino Health District (Veneto Region, Northern Italy)].

Objectives: to describe and compare cardiovascular risk prevalence in a large sample of Italian and foreign fifty-year-old residents in Veneto Region (Northern Italy) who do not have a co-pay fee exemption for cardiovascular diseases. Data collection comes from standardized and objective measurements carried out by health personnel of the Department of Prevention of the Local Health Agency 7 of Veneto Region.

Design: cross-sectional study.

Failure to rescue as a source of variation in hospital mortality after rectal surgery: The Italian experience.

Introduction: Failure to rescue (FTR) patients from postoperative complications could contribute to the variability in surgical mortality seen among hospitals with different volumes. We sought to examine the impact of complications and FTR on mortality following rectal surgery.

Methods: The National Italian Hospital Discharge Dataset allowed to identify 75,280 patients who underwent rectal surgery between 2002 and 2014.

Effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulation with non-vitamin K antagonists compared to well-managed vitamin K antagonists in naïve patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: Propensity score matched cohort study.

Background: The global real-life impact of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) introduction in the healthcare system in a setting of well-managed vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy has not been specifically addressed.

Methods: We did a population-based retrospective cohort study in naïve patients initiating oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in a region with a well-managed VKA therapy. NOAC and VKA cohorts were identified using Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes, while excluding other indications for anticoagulation therapy using ICD-9CM codes.

[Extending traceability of malignant testicular tumours using hospital discharge records: an experience in Veneto Region (Northern Italy)].

Objectives: validation of codes of hospital discharge records (SDO) for identification of new cases of malignant testicular tumour in the Veneto Region (Northern Italy).

Design: record linkage between the regional archive of SDO and the archive of the Veneto Tumour Registry (VTR).

Setting And Participants: extraction of cases from SDO source with ICD-9-CM 186 code for diagnosis and 62.

Intensity of integrated cancer palliative care plans and end-of-life acute medical hospitalisation among cancer patient in Northern Italy.

A high hospital utilisation at the end of life (EOL) is an indicator of suboptimal quality of health care. We evaluated the impact of the intensity of different Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) plans on EOL acute medical hospitalisation among cancer decedents. Decedents of cancer aged 18-84 years, who were residents in two Italian regions, were investigated through integrated administrative data.

End-of-Life Place of Care, Health Care Settings, and Health Care Transitions Among Cancer Patients: Impact of an Integrated Cancer Palliative Care Plan.

Context: Frequent end-of-life health care setting transitions can lead to an increased risk of fragmented care and exposure to unnecessary treatments.

Objectives: We assessed the relationship between the presence and the intensity of an Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) plan and the occurrence of multiple transitions during the last month of life.

Methods: Decedents of cancer aged 18-85 years residents in two regions of Italy were investigated accessing their integrated administrative data (death certificates, hospital discharges, hospice, and home care records).

Ethnic inequalities in acute myocardial infarction hospitalization rates among young and middle-aged adults in Northern Italy: high risk for South Asians.

The knowledge of ethnic-specific health needs is now essential to design effective health services and population-based prevention strategies. However, data on migrant populations living in Southern Europe are limited. The study is designed to investigate ethnic inequalities in hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the Veneto region (Italy).

Intensity of Integrated Primary and Specialist Home-Based Palliative Care for Chronic Diseases in Northeast Italy and Its Impact on End-of-Life Hospital Access.

Background: Hospital admissions at the end of life (EOL) represent an established indicator of poor quality of care.

Objective: To examine the impact of intensity of integrated primary and specialist home-based palliative care for chronic diseases (HPCCD) plans of care on EOL hospital access.

Methods: Retrospective population-based study using linked mortality, hospitalization, and home care data.

Growing burden of sepsis-related mortality in northeastern Italy: a multiple causes of death analysis.

Background: Few population-based data are available on mortality due to sepsis. The aim of the study was to estimate sepsis-related mortality rates and to assess the associated comorbidities.

Methods: From multiple causes of death data (MCOD) of the Veneto Region (northeastern Italy), all deaths with sepsis mentioned anywhere in the death certificate were retrieved for the period 2008-2013.

Contemporary Burden of Atrial Fibrillation and Associated Mortality in Northeastern Italy.

Based on different estimation methods, mortality attributable to atrial fibrillation (AF) has been demonstrated to increase over time in developed countries, reaching a share ranging from 1% to 5% of overall deaths. To assess the whole burden of AF-associated mortality, all diseases mentioned in death certificates of subjects aged ≥45 years resident in the Veneto Region (Northeastern Italy) were analyzed for the 2008 to 2013 period. The prevalence of common chronic co-morbidities was compared between deaths with mention of AF and a sample of age-matched deaths without reported AF.

Patient and General Practitioner characteristics influencing the management of non-insulin-treated diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study in Italy.

Aims: We assessed the influence of patient and General Practitioner (GP) characteristics on the adherence to process of care indicators for non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes management in the Veneto Region (northeastern Italy).

Methods: Among non-insulin-treated diabetic patients aged 18-84years identified by multiple information sources, we assessed the measurement of glycated hemoglobin, microalbumin, and lipids through the year 2013. Patients' variables included gender, age, citizenship, and the attendance to Diabetes Clinics, while GP characteristics were gender, age and an attitude score derived from a questionnaire.

Prevalence, characteristics, and survival of children with esophageal atresia: A 32-year population-based study including 1,417,724 consecutive newborns.

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) is a congenital malformation of the upper gastrointestinal tract with an estimated prevalence varying from 1 in 2500 to 1 in 4500 births. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of EA between 1981 and 2012 and evaluate patients' survival.

Methods: This study used data from a population-based Italian Congenital Malformation Registry.

Large variations in stroke hospitalization rates across immigrant groups in Italy.

A high mortality from cerebrovascular diseases has been reported among immigrants in Europe; however, data on stroke incidence in immigrants are sparse. Aim of the study is to assess hospitalization rates for stroke across different immigrant groups in the Veneto Region (Italy). The study population was represented by all residents aged 20-64 years.

COPD-Related Mortality and Co-morbidities in Northeastern Italy, 2008-2012: A Multiple Causes of Death Analysis.

Introduction: Analysis of COPD mortality based only on the underlying cause of death (UCOD) derived from death certificates underestimates disease burden. We analyzed the burden of COPD, as well as the pattern of reporting COPD and its co-morbidities in death certificates, using multiple-cause of death (MCOD) records.

Methods: All 220,281 death certificates of decedents aged ≥ 40 years in the Veneto region (northeastern Italy) were analyzed through 2008-2012.

Education level and chronic liver disease by aetiology: A proportional mortality study.

Background: Data are lacking on mortality from chronic liver diseases of different aetiology by education level.

Aims: To investigate the association between education level and mortality from alcoholic, viral, and non-viral/non-alcoholic chronic liver disease.

Methods: Proportional mortality was investigated in 2011-2013 in the Veneto Region (Italy).

Multiple causes of death analysis of chronic diseases: the example of diabetes.

Background: Identifying a single disease as the underlying cause of death (UCOD) is an oversimplification of the clinical-pathological process leading to death. The multiple causes of death (MCOD) approach examines any mention of a disease in death certificates. Taking diabetes as an example, the study investigates: patterns of death certification, differences in mortality figures based on the UCOD and on MCOD, factors associated to the mention of diabetes in death certificates, and potential of MCOD in the analysis of the association between chronic diseases.

Impact of fecal immunochemical test-based screening programs on proximal and distal colorectal cancer surgery rates: A natural multiple-baseline experiment.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs based on the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) were found to reduce overall CRC surgery rates, but to the authors' knowledge data by subsite are lacking. The objective of the current study was to assess the impact of FIT-based screening on proximal and distal CRC surgical resection rates.

Methods: The Veneto region in Italy can be subdivided into 3 areas with staggered introduction of FIT-based screening programs: early (2002-2004), intermediate (2005-2007), and late (2008-2009) areas.