Depressive symptoms in aged Chinese patients with silicosis

Abstract

High prevalence of depressive symptoms was found in patients with silicosis. Respiratory symptoms, physical function and pulmonary functions were associated with depressive symptoms. Our findings provide evidence for physicians to screen for depressive symptoms in patients with silicosis.

Quality of life, depression and anxiety in young male patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting

“…Previous studies in patients with pneumoconiosis and other chronic respiratory diseases revealed that these diseases had affected the quality of life of patients. Our results accord with these findings (3,14,23,24).…”

“…Psychiatric disorders were found to be more frequent in patients with pneumoconiosis than in the normal population in a study which focused on the relationship between silicosis and depression (23). It has been established that elderly silicosis patients have high rates of depression co-morbidity (3,25). In our study, we compared young male silicosis patients and healthy controls, and the results obtained were similar to previous reports.…”

“…The histopathological changes differ from simple silicosis to progressive massive fibrosis in such patients (2). There is no effective treatment for silicosis and the main aim of treatment for this disease is to extend the survival and improve the quality of life of patients (3). Denim sandblasting is one of the most risky occupations for the development of silicosis (4).…”

“…Silicosis patients in Turkey are reported to be young and to have low incomes (3,4,8). Thirty five patients with silicosis were reported at the Turkish Thoracic Society symposium three years ago.…”

“…It is well known that high rates of anxiety symptoms are observed in patients with chronic lung diseases with dyspnea (13). Although some chronic respiratory diseases such as pneumoconiosis and the other chronic respiratory diseases affect the quality of life of patients, the knowledge of patients about the mortality and the untreatable nature of the disease may have additional effects on the severity of anxiety and depression (3,23,14,24).…”