Abstract

LOPEZ AYLAGAS, Begoña; BOREN ALTES, Eulàlia; PUGET BOSCH, Dulce  and  COLOMINA CAPDERROS, Lídia. Declared silicosis in the Mutual of Occupational Accidents ASEPEYO (2011-2014). Rev Asoc Esp Espec Med Trab [online]. 2016, vol.25, n.3, pp.154-165. ISSN 3020-1160.

Introduction: Silicosis is a chronic and incurable disease without effective medical treatment. It is considered a work-related illness so it must be declared by the mutual of occupational accidents and it sometimes originates a permanent sick leave. The main focus of our study was to determine the number of declared silicosis in Asepeyo between 2011 and 2014. Material and methods: 141 workers were included in CEPROSS's system (Communication of occupational diseases in the Security Social) in order to carry out a statistical research of their variables. It was considered silicosis cases through clinical and qualitative variables. Comparison or the results with scientific literature. Results: Galicia, Catalonia and Castile-Leon were the Regional Communities with the highest number of cases. The most affected occupations were those related to quartz and ornamental stone business (59.46%) and excavation works in mines, tunnels and quarries (30%). The average age of diagnosis was about 47.2 years in workers with an average exposure of 21 years. 75.9% suffered a sick leave (average duration of 110 days) and in 69% of diagnoses, the Institute Nacional de la Seguridad Social granted them with a permanent disability. The rate of simple silicosis prevalence among workers was 53%, followed by chronicle simple silicosis (26%) and chronicle complicated silicosis (19%). There are no global changes in pulmonary blood flow at spirometric level except for a declination in lung diffusion for chronic silicosis. It is observed that 46% of the workers were smokers. HRCT was performed in 84% of the clinical cases. Conclusions: Relationship between being a smoker and suffering complicated silicosis has been demonstrated. There is also a close link between the increase in the average age of diagnosis and complicated silicosis cases. The spirometric disorders have a close connection with the magnitude of exposure. And finally there is an extensive use of HRCT for diagnosis.

Keywords : silicosis; occupational diseases; occupational disability; occupational prevention.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )