Survival differences of the oldest old in Sardinia: which, where, why, and what?

Graziella Caselli, Università di Roma "La Sapienza"
Rosa Maria Lipsi, Università di Roma "La Sapienza"

A study of centenarians in Sardinia detected the existence of a certain area where the number of centenarians is higher than elsewhere. Certain scholars are of the opinion that the existence of a greater or a lesser number of centenarians largely depends on mortality features between 80 and 100 years and in particular on mortality for circulatory diseases. This study aims to cast light on our knowledge of elderly mortality differentials in Sardinia, and attempts to verify this hypothesis. To do so, an analysis is conducted of age and sex mortality trends over time at province and commune level. As the need is felt to also provide some answers, the analysis includes mortality by cause of death. Results fully confirm the underlying hypothesis when taking a large geographical area while, at commune level, in a very small district within Nuoro, where mortality for circulatory diseases is lower than found elsewhere.