[Health of immigrants in Italy: increasing evidences and forgotten issues in the epidemiological research].
To obtain a broad picture of epidemiological studies on health of immigrants in Italy, we analyzed abstracts presented at the last five annual meetings of the Italian Epidemiological Association (AIE), and abstracts on PubMed published in 2000-2009 (including also clinical studies). Studies at AIE meetings mainly used electronic archives of health records to investigate the overall health profile of immigrants, or specifically women and perinatal health; these surveys are then rarely published on scientific journals. By contrast, several areas addressed in the literature (infectious diseases, accidents, lifestyles, mental health, pediatric diseases, allergic diseases) are almost absent in recent AIE meetings. If Italian epidemiologists claim a role as technical support to policy makers, they should probably invest more in what has recently become the most important and debated issue in the Italian society.
Fedeli
Ugo
U
SER (Sistema epidemiologico regionale), via dei Carpani 16/Z, 31033 Castelfranco Veneto (TV). ugo.fedeli@ulssasolo.ven.it
Baussano
Iacopo
I
D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data