RT Journal Article
T1 Differences in mortality trends according to population density in two southern European countries, 2001–2019
A1 Moreno, Almudena
A1 Pulido Manzanero, José
A1 Cea Soriano, Trinidad Lucía
A1 Mateo, Alberto
A1 Ceccarelli, Emiliano
A1 Pezzotti, Patrizio
A1 Regidor Poyatos, Enrique
AB ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude and trend of overall mortality and mortality from the leading causes of death according to population density in Italy and Spain, during the first two decades of the 21st century.Study designThis is a cross-sectional time-series design using anonymized data from all residents in Italy and Spain from 2001 to 2019.MethodsDeaths and population data by age and sex, according to province of residence were obtained from the National Institutes of Statistics. Provinces were grouped into three categories based on their population density: low, medium and high. Annual age-standardized mortality rates were calculated from 2001 to 2019, in each population density category. The average annual percentage change (APC) in the mortality rate in each category was estimated using linear regression models and taking age-standardized mortality rates as dependent variable.ResultsOverall mortality rates and mortality from the leading causes of death decreased between the beginning and the end of the period analyzed. The APC (95 % confidence interval) in the low, medium and high density categories was, respectively, −1.5 (−1.8,-1.3), −1.4 (−1.6, −1.2), −1.6 (−1.9, −1.4) in Italy and −1.4 (−1.6, −1.1), −1.8 (−2.0, −1.6) and −2.1 (−2.4,-1.9) in Spain. The high-density category also showed the largest reduction in mortality from most causes of death. As consequence, the mortality disadvantage found in that category at the beginning of the study period disappeared or reverted at the end of period.ConclusionsDuring the first two decades of the 21st century, overall mortality and mortality from the leading causes of death showed greater reduction in the provinces with the highest population density in Italy and Spain. Future research should test the reasons that explain this greater mortality decline in the densely populated areas.
PB Elsevier
SN 0033-3506
YR 2025
FD 2025-12
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133135
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133135
LA eng
NO Moreno A, Pulido J, Cea-Soriano L, Mateo A, Ceccarelli E, Pezzotti P, et al. Differences in mortality trends according to population density in two southern European countries, 2001–2019. Public Health 2025;249:105982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105982.
NO 2025 Acuerdos transformativos CRUE
DS Docta Complutense
RD 18 mar 2026