Document Detail


Unexpected opportunities: incidental findings detected during impairment evaluations for coal workers' pneumoconiosis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9114833     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis impairment evaluations for 374 miners, predominantly from eastern Kentucky, were conducted by our department between January 1, 1989, and June 30, 1992. During a review of the cases, potentially significant findings not directly related to any detected pneumoconiosis were recorded. Sixty-five (17.4%) of the men had blood pressure > or = 150 mm Hg systolic or > or = 90 mm Hg diastolic during one measurement. Of 89 workers who had a previous diagnosis of hypertension and were being treated, 40 (44.9%) had an elevated blood pressure measurement. Twelve cases of incidental, previously undetected chest radiograph findings warranted follow-up; 9 of these were isolated pulmonary nodules. In addition, three patients were immediately referred for evaluation and treatment of conditions newly diagnosed during the examination--one for unstable angina pectoris, one for congestive heart failure, and one for recent cerebrovascular accident. These cases illustrate that physicians doing impairment evaluations, even if they are not the patient's treating physician, have the opportunity and responsibility to intervene and reduce morbidity and mortality.
Authors:
T S Prince; A L Frank
Related Documents :
17886613 - The first weeks on peritoneal dialysis: effects on clinical parameters.
10667533 - Vasopressin as an alternative to norepinephrine in the treatment of milrinone-induced h...
7155523 - Hypertensive retinopathy. description, classification, and prognosis.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Southern medical journal     Volume:  90     ISSN:  0038-4348     ISO Abbreviation:  South. Med. J.     Publication Date:  1997 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-05-08     Completed Date:  1997-05-08     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0404522     Medline TA:  South Med J     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  413-5     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40504, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Angina, Unstable / complications,  diagnosis
Cerebrovascular Disorders / complications,  diagnosis
Coal Mining*
Heart Failure / complications,  diagnosis
Humans
Hypertension / complications,  diagnosis
Male
Middle Aged
Pneumoconiosis / complications*
Smoking
Work Capacity Evaluation

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


Previous Document:  Outcome in medical intensive care unit patients requiring abdominal surgery: prospective validation ...
Next Document:  Warthin's tumor and cigarette smoking.