ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe the characteristics and the survival status of pneumoconiosis cases reported in Guangzhou City from 1958 to 2018, and to investigate the epidemiological trends of pneumoconiosis. This study is aiming to provide basic data for formulating the guidelines and policies for control of pneumoconiosis, and for evaluating the control effects of pneumoconiosis. Methods: From July 2019 to January 2020, based on the data collected in the pneumoconiosis case cards and database as well as the retrospective follow-up investigate of pneumoconiosis cases, we conducted a descriptive analysis for all the new cases of pneumoconiosis reported from 1958 to 2018 in Guangzhou City. The statistical indices included the number of new pneumoconiosis cases in each decade, types of pneumoconiosis, regional and industrial distributions, survival status, and the change tendency of the diagnosis age and the dust exposure time of pneumoconiosis cases. Results: From 1958 to 2018, a total of 1194 new cases of pneumoconiosis were reported in Guangzhou City, including 1147 males (96.1%) and 47 females (3.9%) . Silicosis (60.1%, 718/1194) and welder's pneumoconiosis (21.5%, 257/1194) were the main types of pneumoconiosis. The top three districts for reporting new cases were Huangpu District (29.0%, 346/1194) , Nansha District (12.6%, 151/1194) and Baiyun District (11.1%, 132/1194) , respectively. The top three industries for reporting new cases were civil engineering construction industry (25.0%, 298/1194) , railway ship aerospace and other transportation equipment manufacturing industry (16.1%, 192/1194) and non-metal mining industry (15.7%, 187/1194) . The diagnosis age for new cases was 47.8 (23.6-79.1) years old, and the dust exposure time was 12.3 (0.4-49.1) years. Both of these two statistical indicators rose first and fell later from 1958 to 2018. As of December 31, 2019, a total of 963 new cases of pneumoconiosis were followed up, of which 467 (48.5%) survived, mainly silicosis (41.3%, 193/467) and welder's pneumoconiosis (43.3%, 203/467) . 496 cases (51.5%) died, and the age of death was 69.9 (32.4-96.9) years old. Conclusion: According to the epidemiological characteristics of pneumoconiosis in Guangzhou, we should focus on key districts and industries in the prevention and control of pneumoconiosis. Besides, the staffs in the occupational disease diagnosis institutions should try the best to collect the complete dust exposure data of new cases of pneumoconiosis. Moreover, the health administrative departments should pay more attention to the management of pneumoconiosis death case reports.
