Hospital records: An underutilized source of information regarding occupational diseases and exposures

Abstract

A 1993 study examined the association between pneumoconiosis and cor pulmonale using a computerized data base of hospital records in Ontario (Hospital Medical Records Institute, HMRI)

Inpatient hospital care for work‐related injuries and illnesses

“…A few previous occupational health research investigations have been performed using hospital discharge data. Several researchers have tested the use of state-based hospital discharge records for occupational disease surveillance covering a variety of specific disorders including ocular injuries [Baker et al, 1999], work-related asthma [Henneberger et al, 1999], silicosis [Geidenberger et al, 1998], chemical-related respiratory disease [Reilly and Rosenman, 1995], pneumoconiosis [Liss et al, 1997], occupational cancer [Balmes et al, 1992], and finger amputations [Sorock et al, 1993a]. However, hospital discharge records have not previously been used to compile a comprehensive picture of inpatient care for a cross-section of work-related conditions.…”

Hospitalization in Winnipeg, Canada due to occupational disease: A pilot study

“…Liss et al [2000] showed that persons with occupational asthma suffer higher rates of hospitalizations for all causes combined, respiratory disease, and asthma than workers with musculoskeletal injuries. Other work from Ontario showed that hospital records were a reliable source for identifying cases of pneumoconiosis [Liss et al, 1997]. Hospital discharge data has also been used to study injuries in the farming and forestry industries in Canada [Pickett et al, 2001;Alamgir et al, 2006].…”

“…None of these studies were designed to estimate the extent that occupational exposures led to hospitalizations in a general population. As research on hospitalization due to occupational illnesses in Canada and other countries has generally been done either looking at a specific disease [Liss et al, 1997;Liss et al, 2000] or a specific occupational group [Pickett et al, 2001;Alamgir et al, 2006], this study should be replicated in other jurisdictions to gain a greater understanding of the extent of hospitalization due to occupational diseases in general.…”