Risk of pneumothorax in pneumoconiosis patients in Taiwan: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Objectives This study was conducted to explore the association between pneumoconiosis and pneumothorax.Design Retrospective cohort study.Setting Nationwide population-based study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database.Participants A total of 2333 pneumoconiosis patients were identified (1935 patients for propensity score (PS)-matched cohort) and matched to 23 330 control subjects by age and sex (7740 subjects for PS-matched cohort).Primary and secondary outcome measures The incidence and the cumulative incidence of pneumothorax.Results Both incidence and the cumulative incidence of pneumothorax were significantly higher in the pneumoconiosis patients as compared with the control subjects (p<0.0001). For multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, residency, income level and other comorbidities, patients with pneumoconiosis exhibited a significantly higher risk of pneumothorax than those without pneumoconiosis (HR 3.05, 95% CI 2.18 to 4.28, p<0.0001). The male sex, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease and connective tissue disease were risk factors for developing pneumothorax in pneumoconiosis patients.Conclusions Our study revealed a higher risk of pneumothorax in pneumoconiosis patients and suggested potential risk factors in these patients. Clinicians should be aware about the risk of pneumothorax in pneumoconiosis patients.