Educational inequalities in mortality in northern, mid and southern Italy and the contribution of smoking

Background: Previous studies have shown that mortality inequalities are smaller in Italy than in most European countries. This may be due to the weak association between socioeconomic status and smoking in Italy. However, most published studies were based on data from a single city in northern Italy (Turin). In this study, we aimed to assess the size of mortality inequalities in Italy as a whole, their geographical pattern of variation within Italy, and the contribution of smoking to these inequalities. Methods: Participants in the National Health Interview Survey 1999-2000 were followed up for mortality until 31 December 2007. Using Cox regression, we computed the age-adjusted relative index of inequality (RII) for allcause mortality with and without controlling for smoking status and intensity. Education was used as an indicator of socioeconomic status. Results: A