Health Profiles of Inmates: A Cross-Sectional Study of Prevalent Diseases in a Central Italian Prison.

Background

Article 32 of the Italian Constitution guarantees the right to health for all citizens, including detainees. Prison populations face unique health challenges due to high-risk lifestyles, psychosocial stressors, and limited access to care. This study aimed to investigate the burden of chronic diseases and associated risk factors among male inmates in a central Italian prison.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in accordance with STROBE guidelines at Giuseppe Pagliei Prison in Frosinone, Central Italy, from May 2022 to May 2023. A total of 477 adult male inmates underwent systematic clinical evaluations and medical record reviews. Demographic and health data were analyzed to determine the prevalence of chronic conditions and related risk factors.

Results

Participants (mean age 47.3 ± 13.1 years; 69.6% Italian, 30.4% international, mainly Eastern European and African) presented on average 1.8 chronic conditions. The most frequent diagnoses were psychiatric disorders (19.9%), cardiovascular diseases (17.2%), and osteoarticular disorders (14.5%). Disease burden correlated with aging, unhealthy lifestyles, and incarceration-related stressors. Tobacco smoking was highly prevalent.

Conclusions

Male inmates show a considerable and partly preventable burden of chronic disease. Broader policy measures, including alternative sentencing and community-based rehabilitation, may mitigate the health impact of imprisonment while ensuring public safety. Adequate prison healthcare remains a public health priority and a constitutional and human rights obligation.