A population-based study of the years of life lost in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy

Background. The number of years of life lost (YLL) in a population depends not only on the number of deaths but also on the age at which the deaths have occurred, and, as a measure of the burden of premature mortality, is an important piece of information for public health professionals. Methods. We calculated YLL in the population of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a 1 200 000 inhabitant Italian region, in 2013 and the trend in the past 14 years, through a population-based study using the regional mortality database as the source of information. The same projected life expectancy estimates for 2050 were used for calculating YLL both in males and females, for each calendar year. Results. In 2013, we counted 14 080 deaths and estimated 220 961 YLL. Malignant neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases accounted for the greatest number of YLL. Injuries had the highest number of YLL per death. Overall, YLL decreased from 2000 to 2013, but differences were observed for different causes of death. Cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and unintentional injuries showed a decreasing trend, whereas infectious diseases resulted increasing over time. Conclusion. This study, estimating the relative impact of different conditions on the society though the YLL, is a relevant input for the regional public health agenda.