Mortality from motor neuron disease in the province of Bologna, Italy, 1986 through 1988
S. Ferro, A. Giovannini, L. Fiorani, P. Carmentano and R. D'Alessandro
Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna, Italy.
We performed a study on mortality from motor neuron disease in the province
of Bologna, Italy, during the years 1986 through 1988. The study was based
on death certificates from the Cancer Registry of the Province of Bologna.
We verified death certificates for both false-positive and false-negative
cases. The crude mortality rate was 1.93/100,000 population per year. The
age and sex mortality rate, standardized on the Italian population, was
1.40/100,000 (95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.83). Our figures are
higher than those previously reported both as the incidence and as
mortality in Italy, but these data are similar to values that have been
found in northern Europe and in North America.
