Asbestosis hospitalizations in Poland (2006–2016): results from the National Hospital Discharge Registry

Abstract

Introduction and objective. Occupational asbestos exposure is one of the major public health issues. Although asbestos use in Poland has decreased, asbestosis continues to remain an important health concern in the area of occupational medicine. The aim of the study is to perform a descriptive analysis of hospitalization cases in patients suffering from asbestosis in Poland. Materials and method. The authors used hospital discharge records to conduct a retrospective, population-based study. To estimate the asbestosis hospitalization rate, data from the Nationwide General Hospital Morbidity Study conducted by the National Institute of Public Health were used. Events were defined as in-patient hospital discharges during 2006-2016. 1,101 hospitalization records of 764 patients were included in the study. Results. In the study group of first-time hospitalized patients, the mean and median ages were 68.1 and 69 years, respectively; CI: 67.3-68.9; SD: 11.1, min-max:16-99 years. In this group, significant gender differences were observed (560 males vs. 204 female; P<0.001). No statistical differences were observed regarding the place of residence. During the observation period, 61 in-hospital deaths were reported (8% of all patients), 40 of whom (5.2 % of all patients) took place during the first-time hospitalizations. Asbestosis hospitalizations were mainly clustered in the southwestern region, whereas the highest hospitalization rates were clustered in several areas of Poland. Conclusions. The authors believe this study to be the first evaluation of asbestosis in Poland made on the basis of the hospital morbidity database. The data presented may be helpful in comparative studies on the epidemiology of asbestosis across European countries.

Global, regional, and national burden of non-communicable diseases attributable to occupational asbestos exposure 1990–2019 and prediction to 2035: worsening or improving?

“…In 2019, the global overall burden of NCDs due to occupational asbestos exposure was higher among males. Compared with females, males are more likely to engage in construction, railway, cement processing, and other industries with high asbestos exposure, with more frequent asbestos exposure [ 29 ]. The gender difference in mesothelioma cases is mainly related to occupational exposure and is more susceptible to the effect of asbestos exposure.…”

The Problem of Asbestos-Cement Sheets Disposal in the Kłobuck Poviat

“…Research has shown that the effects of long-term contact with asbestos dust will be recorded for the next dozen or so years, which, according to the author of the study, should be a reason to consider implementing international criteria for diagnosing asbestosis in Poland [1]. In 2006-2016, hospitalizations caused by exposure to asbestos were recorded mainly in the southern regions of Poland, inter alia, in the Silesia voivodeship, which is caused by air pollution caused by asbestos emission from asbestos processing plants operating in these areas [2,3]. The World Health Organization has estimated that currently about 125 million people worldwide are exposed to harmful asbestos in the workplace, and about half of the deaths are due to cancer.…”

“…In 2006-2016, hospitalizations caused by exposure to asbestos were recorded mainly in the southern regions of Poland, inter alia, in the Silesia voivodeship, which is caused by air pollution caused by asbestos emission from asbestos emission asbestos processing plants operating in these areas [2,3].…”

Clinical investigation of former workers exposed to asbestos: the health surveillance experience of an Italian University Hospital

“…After the issuance of Commission Directive 1999/77/EC of 26 July 1999, the use of asbestos has been completely banned in more than 50 countries, while in others, such as the USA and New Zealand, its use has been greatly reduced ( 1 ). Nevertheless, there are still countries, especially developing ones, where this mineral is still used, and an increase in cases of asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) has been recorded in recent years ( 2 ).…”