Features of the formation and course of pneumoconiosis in mining and processing plant workers, depending on the smoking status

Introduction. Currently, there is conflicting data on the correlation between smoking and the features of the formation and course of pneumoconiosis, in particular, the time of occurrence, the rate of progression, and the presence of concomitant bronchopulmonary pathology. Considering that the mining industry is one of the potentially dangerous for the development of pneumoconiosis in workers, and the consumption of smoking tobacco products is a risk of developing bronchopulmonary pathology, the study of modern features of the formation and course of pneumoconiosis, depending on the smoking status, is an urgent task of preventive medicine.

Materials and methods. There was carried out a retrospective analysis of the medical histories of eighty male patients with established pneumoconiosis hospitalized as planned during the period from 2021 up to 2023. Currently, all employees have been withdrawn from the occupation due to the establishment of an occupational disease. The examination of patients included physical examination, chest X-ray, spirometry, body plethysmography, laboratory testing. The working conditions of the surveyed workers were assessed taking into account the information presented in the sanitary and hygienic characteristics of working conditions (form No. 362-1/u-01). The results of the study were statistically processed using the Statistica 10 Software.

Results. There were no statistically significant regularity between the fact of smoking and average experience in contact with fibrogenic substances before diagnosis, the rate of progression and radiological form of the disease, as well as the number of cases of chronical obstructive pulmonry disease (COPD), bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive bronchitis. A greater number of cases of concomitant diseases of the respiratory system, in particular, chronic bronchitis in smokers, have been established. It is necessary to conduct additional research on a larger cohort of people with an established occupational genesis of pneumoconiosis.

Limitations. The study has regional (Orenburg region) and professional (mining and processing plant workers) limitations.

Conclusion. The smoking status has no significant influence on the formation and course of pneumoconiosis in the workers of the mining and processing plant.

Compliance with ethical standards. The studies were conducted in compliance with the requirements of confidentiality of personal data, ethical standards and principles of conducting medical research with human participation, set out in the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (ed. 2013). Written consent of the respondents was obtained to participate in the study. The study was carried out with the permission of the local ethical committee of the Saratov Hygiene Medical Research Center of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies (Protocol No. 1 of 10.01.2024).

Contribution:
Raikova S.V. – the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, writing a text;
Mazilov S.I. – writing a text, statistical processing;
Chernyshova A.A. – collection and processing of material;
Komleva N.E. – editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: February 16, 2024 / Revised: February 29, 2024 / Accepted: April 9, 2024 / Published: June 17, 2024

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