BACKGROUND
Pneumoconiosis has been reported as one of the major global burdens of occupational health-related diseases. The global prevalence had increased since 1990. Prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis in the project of occupational health have been a priority of the action plan of Healthy China 2030.
METHODS
A life table was used to explore the survival and fatality rate of pneumoconiosis. Using Cox proportional hazards regression model, the factors of survival time were investigated.
RESULTS
A total of 15,402 cases had several species of pneumoconiosis, including silicosis, coal worker pneumoconiosis and welder pneumoconiosis that accounted for 68.49%, 19.41% and 3.84% of total pneumoconiosis, respectively. Eighty percent of cases were initially diagnosed at stage I, 15.5% at stage II, and 4.5% at stage III. The overall average survival time was determined as 14.74±9.57 years, the life expectancy reached 34.324 years in total, and the total mortality of patients suffering from pneumoconiosis was 19.89%. The average dust exposure period, average survival time and life expectancy progressively decreased with the stage upgrade, whereas the age of onset and mortality rate tended to increase. Dust exposure years, initially diagnosed at stage II or stage III, stage I upgrade to stage II, stage I upgrade to stage III and low economic level were found as important risk factors for the survival of patients suffering from pneumoconiosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Stage II and stage III of pneumoconiosis may have a direct effect on the survival time of patients suffering from pneumoconiosis. The prevention and delay of the progression of pneumoconiosis are critical to prolonging the survival time of cases.