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In the context of an advocacy program on health and environment, an analysis of the population health status has been conducted in the Province of Chieti by using regional databases of hospital discharge records (HDR) for the years 2005-2014. Cases were identified by selecting the first hospitalisation occurred in the study period and by analysing only the HDR primary diagnosis related to a priori defined diseases (11 groups), on the basis of the methodology proposed by ISS (National Institute of Health-ISS) in "SENTIERI" (Epidemiological Study of Residents in National Priority Contaminates Sites NTCSs). The ratio between Province age-adjusted rate and regional rate showed a statistically significant 7% excess in risk for respiratory diseases in both genders, and a 4% excess risk for urinary tract diseases in women, whereas for other six disease groups statistically significant risk reductions were observed for the Province population. As far as the local level is concerned, out of 104 municipalities, 49 showed at least one statistically significant excess risk compared to the Region (standardised hospitalisation ratio); 18 municipalities showed 2 excess risks, 4 municipalities 3 excesses, and 2 municipalities 4 excesses. This study is preparatory for the deepening of health status of populations living in contaminated sites. Moreover, due to the observed reduction in rare ratios, it seems a priority to extend the study to the other 3 Provinces, since they are expected to show a very different pattern of risk compared to the regional mean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]