[Avoidable mortality in the Italian regions, 1980-1990].

In Italy, between 1890-85 and 1986-90, rates for most "avoidable deaths" decreased: the decline ranged between 20% and 50%. For ages 5-64 years, total "avoidable mortality" declined in both sexes at a greater percentage (-26/27%) than mortality for all causes (-12%). In both periods, often the higher mortality rates (for causes of death selected as "avoidable" and for total avoidable mortality") were observed in the regions of Southern Italy. The "avoidable mortality" summary score showed higher values in 5 regions of Southern Italy (Compania, Sicily, Puglia, Calabria and Basilicata, the last in the period 1986-90, and in 2 regions of Northern Italy (Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta). The regions with higher values of the "avoidable mortality" summary score had also SMRs for total "avoidable mortality" significantly higher than the standard population (whole Italy of the same period). Hypertensive and cerebrovascular diseases, all respiratory diseases (age 1.4 years), perinatal mortality, and, only in the first period, the chronic rheumatic heart disease and all respiratory diseases (age 5-14 years) showed the highest degree of regional variations. The SMRs significantly higher than the standard population were more frequent in females (also after exclusion of sex-specific causes of death). The number of SMRs significantly higher than the standard population and the range of the "avoidable mortality" summary scores were smaller in the second period.