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The province of Ferrara represents one of the areas with the highest mortality rate for lung cancer in Italy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relative importance of the main known risk factors for lung cancer in that area. It is a case control study based on the population where the cases under study (249) are selected from subjects deceased over the period 1988-1993 in the territory of the ex USL 33 (Local Health Authority) of Comacchio, while the controls (500) lived in the same area. The statistical analysis showed the same information that can be found in other medical literature regarding the known risk factors: smoking (OR = 3.7-44.9 per n. cigarettes/die), spouse passive smoking (OR = 1.1), passive smoking due to social setting (pubs) (OR = 1.9), vegetable diet (OR = 0.4). A important role was played by the factors linked to socio-economic differences. There was a significant increase in risk for those who had lived in "casazze" in the area, which are typical homes of the poorer social classes. There was also a significant increase in risk for subjects with a lower level of education. To obtain these results the analysis method known as "classification trees" was also used in order to verify its possible use in the public health sector.

The investigation intends to estimate the frequency of some Sentinel health events (SHE) in order to evaluate, preliminarily in methodological terms, the applicability of the survey on some probable SHE, which derive from the death certificates sent to Public health board. The work load has been estimated in relation to the different demographic economic and social realities existing in Emilia Romagna Region. Moreover, the suitability (applicability), in operative terms, of the list suggested by the National group for the SHE (CISM), has been examined. In the end, some questions have been raised and some organizational suggestions have been proposed, in order to guarantee the constancy and validity of the survey and above all the knowable acceptance of the insiders.