Document Detail


Mortality of Dutch coal miners in relation to pneumoconiosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung function.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9404317     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: To analyse the mortality patterns of former Dutch coal miners, focusing on coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) in relation to pre-existing impairment of lung function. METHODS: 3790 selected miners, medically examined between 1952 and 1963, were followed up to the end of 1991 with the municipal population registries and the causes of death from the death certificates were ascertained and converted to the codes from the ninth revision of the international classification of diseases (ICD-9). Mortality comparisons were made with the male population in The Netherlands, resulting in standardised mortality ratios (SMRs). 3367 miners had radiological manifestation of CWP at medical examinations. RESULTS: 80% of the miners died during the follow up period. Excess mortalities from CWP (SMR 4523) and COPD (SMR 179) were found. Coal miners without CWP also showed an increased mortality from COPD (SMR 2913). A diminished lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), or FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity) ratio) at medical examination resulted in a significantly increased SMR for COPD (322 and 212 respectively) whereas normal lung function yielded expected mortalities from COPD. A positive correlation also emerged between diminished lung function and the SMR due to CWP. The body mass index (BMI) at the moment of medical examination was correlated with the risk of dying of COPD and CWP: a decreasing BMI resulting in an increased SMR. CONCLUSIONS: Not only infectious diseases and CWP but also COPD is an important cause of occupational mortality in miners with extensive exposure to coal mine dust. No obvious connection between pre-existing CWP and the COPD mortality exists. Impaired FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratios are predictors of an increased risk of COPD death. The BMI seems to indicate the severity of the COPD, resulting in premature death.
Authors:
J M Meijers; G M Swaen; J J Slangen
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Occupational and environmental medicine     Volume:  54     ISSN:  1351-0711     ISO Abbreviation:  Occup Environ Med     Publication Date:  1997 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-12-29     Completed Date:  1997-12-29     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9422759     Medline TA:  Occup Environ Med     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  708-13     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Public Health Institute Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Body Mass Index
Coal Mining*
Follow-Up Studies
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Lung / physiopathology*
Lung Diseases / etiology,  mortality*
Lung Diseases, Obstructive / etiology,  mortality
Male
Middle Aged
Netherlands / epidemiology
Occupational Diseases / etiology,  mortality*
Pneumoconiosis / etiology,  mortality
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Vital Capacity
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Occup Environ Med. 1998 Jul;55(7):503   [PMID:  9816386 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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