Background:

Under-reporting and recognition of occupational disease (OD) is a secular problem in Spain and other European countries. The burden of occupational disease in Spain project (CEPS) aims to contribute.

Objective:

To describe the process of identification and recognition of OD in seven Spanish between 2017 and 2020.

Material and Methods:

In the seven hospitals that participate in the study an occupational pathology unit (OPU) was created. The OPU encouraged the healthcare services to identify possible OD treated in the hospital. The patients confirmed by the OPU were accompanied in the recognition process.

Results:

308 cases were referred in this period and 154 OD was confirmed (62%). Of these, 78 have been recognized (65%). The confirmation rate (confirmed/ referred cases) varied according to hospitals (from 25% at the Badalona Serveis Assistencials to 100% at the Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz) and diagnosis groups (from 13% for musculoskeletal disorders to 100% for various pathologies). The recognition rate (confirmed/ recognized cases) varied according to hospitals, diagnosis, sex and age, being higher in women, aged ≥ 55 years and diagnosed with various pathologies (ocular, infectious, mental, among others).

Conclusion:

OPU contribute significantly in the process of identification and recognition of OD, which the patients might not have obtained otherwise.

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