Medicine Science (Dec 2023)
Evaluation of loss of earning power in pneumoconiosis patients with occupational lung disease
Abstract
Occupational diseases are a category of diseases that are caused by exposure to risk factors. Pneumoconiosis is one of the occupational diseases. We aimed to analyze patients with pneumoconiosis whose diagnosis was finalized by the 3rd Forensic Medicine Specialization Committee (3rd FMSC) of the Forensic Medicine Institute (FMI). The study investigated various factors such as gender, diagnosis age, length of employment, workplace measurements of the causative agent, smoking history, pneumoconiosis subtypes, opacity types, Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) values, as well as decisions made by the Occupational Diseases Hospital (ODH), Social Security Institution (SSI), and Social Insurance High Health Board (SIHHB). Retrospective analysis was conducted on 369 patients with pneumoconiosis that received disability determination. All patients were male, with mean age at initial diagnosis of 44.25±11.86 years. The mean duration of occupational exposure was 16.32±7.54 years. Silicosis was the most common diagnosis. Occupational diseases were diagnosed in 95.7% of patients by the 3rd FMSC, with small opacity being the most prevalent subtype, particularly q2-p1 opacity among them, and B opacity being the most common among large opacities. Significant correlation was found between working hours and types of pneumoconiosis. However, no significant correlation was found between radiologically determined opacities by the 3rd FMSC and working duration. Examination of the decisions made by the 3rd FMSC, SIHHB, SSI, and ODH revealed the least agreement between ODH and other institutions. Regarding the diagnosis agreement of opacity densities between the 3rd FMSC, SIHHB, SSI, and ODH, the agreement between the 3rd FMSC and other institutions was the lowest. To evaluate disability caused by pneumoconiosis, it is recommended to utilize current technological advancements and provide comprehensive medical documentation. In the relevant regulations, it is suggested that a new regulation, involving branch specialists, should be developed to address the radiological, functional, and clinical aspects in comprehensive manner.r. [Med-Science 2023; 12(4.000): 1341-51]
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