The Impact of Socio-Economic Conditions on Individuals’ Health: Development of an Index and Examination of its Association with Three of the Most Frequently Registered Diseases in Lazio Region of Italy

This study examines spatial disparities and associations between the social deprivationindex (SDI) and Type 2 Diabetes, Dementia, and Heart Failure in Italy’s Lazio Region.The primary goal is to assess how social deprivation impacts health inequalities by analys-ing SDI-disease correlations. This retrospective study uses 2020 socioeconomic data and2021 epidemiological indicators in Lazio Region, Italy. The SDI, constructed followingestablished guidelines, measures social deprivation. Statistical tools, including regressionmodels, Moran’s I test, and LISA techniques, are used to analyse spatial patterns. Uti-lizing a retrospective approach, we merge 2020 socioeconomic and 2021 epidemiologi-cal data for analysis. The SDI is computed using established methods. Spatial disparitiesare explored through regression models, Moran’s I test, and LISA techniques. The studyreveals significant disparities in disease incidence. District V in Rome exhibits high Type 2Diabetes (113.75/1000) and Heart Failure (37.98/1000) rates, while Marcetelli has elevatedDementia incidence (19.74). Southern municipalities face high unemployment (up to 25%),whereas bordering areas have higher education levels (30–60%). Disease hotspots emergein Rome and centre-north municipalities, aligning with social deprivation patterns. Regres-sion models confirm the link between disease incidence and socioeconomic indicators. SDIranges from − 1.31 to + 10.01. This study underscores a correlation between social depriva-tion and disease incidence. Further national-level research is essential to deepen our under-standing of how social deprivation influences health outcomes, with potential implicationsfor addressing health disparities both regionally and nationally.