title: [Hospitalization study on a cohort of families applying for tenement houses in Florence (Tuscany Region, Central Italy)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the morbidity of a materially deprived population of family members applying for public tenement houses in Florence, Central Italy, in the period 1977-2001.
  
  
  METHODS
  all yearly first hospital admissions concerning 4,773 persons resident in Florence who applied for tenement houses to local public bodies during 1997-2001 were collected.
  
  
  METHODS
  gender specific age-standardized hospitalization ratios (SHR) for all causes and cause-specific hospital admissions during 2001- 2005. The expected cases were calculated using as reference gender, age and cause specific hospitalization rates of Tuscany population for the 2001-2005 period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2,777 hospital admissions were registered. Statistically significant excesses of standardized hospitalization ratio were observed in both genders for all causes (males: SHR 1.14, 95%CI 1.07-1.20; females: SHR 1.22, 95%CI 1.16-1.28), mental disorders (males: SHR 2.19, 95%CI 1.71- 2.76; females: SHR 1.77, 95%CI 1.35-2.27) and respiratory diseases (males: SHR 1.25, 95%CI 1.05-1.47; females: SHR 1.33, 95%CI 1.09-1.60). Other excesses were observed for endocrine, metabolic and immunity disorders only in males (SHR 1.38, 95%CI 1.04-1.79), and for injuries and poisoning only in females (SHR 1.24, 95%CI 1.03-1.48). Statistical significant deficits were observed for neoplasm and for diseases of circulatory system in both genders, and for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue in males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the results, consistent with the available evidences on causes of illness in disadvantaged groups, point to the importance of built environment and adequate housing in reducing health inequalities.
authors.affiliation: SC epidemiologia ambientale occupazionale, Istituto per lo studio e la prevenzione oncologica (ISPO), Firenze. e.chellini@ispo.toscana.it.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chellini
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carreras
authors.forename: Oria
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baroncini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D055815:Young Adult