Malignant asbestos‐related disease in a population exposed to asbestos

Abstract Objectives: The first asbestos fiber cement plant in Spain operated in Cerdanyola, in the Barcelona metropolitan area, between 1907 and 1997. We describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with the malignant asbestosrelated disease (ARD) in the area of the plant between 2007 and 2016. Methods: A prospective, descriptive study was undertaken in the 12 municipalities of the county of Barcelona most proximate to the plant. We describe malignant ARD cases by time of diagnosis, source of exposure, periods of exposure and latency, and distribution by sex. Cumulative incidence and age‐standardized incidence rates (ASIR) are calculated. Results: Of 477 patients diagnosed with ARD between 2007 and 2016, 128 (26%) presented with asbestos‐associated malignancy. Pleural mesothelioma was noted in 105 patients (82.0%) with a linear trend Z‐score of −0.2 (NS) in men and 2.7 (P < .01) in women. The highest ASIRs for malignant ARD (6.1/100 000 residents/year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2‐13.3) and pleural mesothelioma (4.8/100 000 residents/ year; 95% CI, 1.5‐11.6) occurred in municipalities closest to the focal point of contamination. The origin of malignant ARD was nonoccupational in 32.2% of men and 81.6% of women (P < .001). Conclusions: More than 20 years after the closure of the fiber cement plant, the grave consequences of exposure to asbestos remain. The detection of cases of pleural mesothelioma in men seems to have plateaued whereas in women an ascending trend continues, which principally has its origin in nonoccupational exposures

Risk factors of mortality from all asbestos-related diseases: A competing risk analysis.

Background. The mortality from all malignant and nonmalignant asbestos-related diseases remains unknown. The authors assessed the incidence and risk factors for all asbestos-related deaths. Methods. The sample included 544 patients from an asbestos-exposed community in the area of Barcelona (Spain), between Jan 1, 1970, and Dec 31, 2006. Competing risk regression through a subdistribution hazard analysis was used to estimate risk factors for the outcomes. Results. Asbestos-related deaths were observed in 167 (30.7%) patients and 57.5% of these deaths were caused by some type of mesothelioma. The incidence rate after diagnosis was 3,600 per 100,000 person-years. In 7.5% of patients death was non-asbestos-related, while pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma were identified in 87 (16.0%) and 18 (3.3%) patients, respectively. Conclusions. Age, sex, household exposure, cumulative nonmalignant asbestos-related disease, and single malignant pathology were identified as risk factors for asbestos-related death. These findings suggest the need to develop a preventive approach to the community and to improve the clinical follow-up process of these patients

La incapacidad temporal atribuible al consumo de tabaco en trabajadores de 35-64 años. Cataluña, 2007-2016

ABSTRACT Background: Few recent studies have researched into the size and trends of the impact of tobacco use on productivity losses. The objective of this work was to describe the percentage of episodes and non work-related sick leave days with a duration over 5 days due to tobacco use in Catalonia in the period 2007-2016 in relation to the total sick-leave episodes and sick leave days in patients aged 35-64. Methods: Descriptive study of 3,627,107 episodes and 237,219,230 days in sick-leave by any cause, except those work-related, in workers aged 35-64. Population etiological fractions were used. The annual percentage of number of episodes and sick-leave days due to tobacco use in relation with total episodes and sick-leave days was calculated and a trend test was performed. Results: The percentage of sick-leave episodes and days due to tobacco use was higher in men (3.9%; 5.5% respectively) than in women (2.3%; 1.5% respectively). The trend for sick-leave due to tobacco use was positive, with a maximum OR in 2013. For the number of sick-leave episodes due to tobacco use, the corrected Z was 25.3 in men (p < 0.001) and 49.4 in women (p < 0.001). For sick-leave days due to tobacco use, the corrected Z was 36.9 in men (p < 0.001) and 250.4 in women (p < 0.001). Conclusions: About 3% of sick-leave episodes with a duration over than 5 days are due to tobacco use, with a positive trend in both sexes. It is necessary to continue reinforcing the tobacco prevention and control policies in order to improve such trends for years to come.RESUMEN Fundamentos: Pocos estudios recientes han investigado en nuestro medio la magnitud y las tendencias del impacto del consumo de tabaco en la pérdida de productividad. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la proporción de episodios y de días en incapacidad temporal no profesional de duración superior a 5 días y atribuible al consumo de tabaco en Cataluña en el período 2007-2016, respecto del total de incapacidad temporal en trabajadores de 35-64 años. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de 3.627.107 episodios y 237.219.230 días de incapacidad temporal por todas las causas, excepto las de origen profesional, en trabajadores de 35-64 años. Se aplicaron las fracciones etiológicas poblacionales. Se calculó la proporción anual de episodios y de días en incapacidad temporal atribuible (ITA) respecto de la incapacidad temporal (IT) por todas las causas y se realizó un test de tendencia. Resultados: El porcentaje de episodios y de días en ITA por consumo de tabaco fue superior en hombres (3,9%; 5,5% respectivamente) que en mujeres (2,3%; 1,5% respectivamente). La tendencia de la ITA fue ascendente, con un OR máximo en 2013. Para los episodios de ITA, la Z corregida fue 25,3 en hombres (p<0,001) y 49,4 en mujeres (p<0,001). Para los días en ITA, la Z corregida fue 36,9 en hombres (p<0,001) y 250,4 en mujeres (p<0,001). Conclusiones: Alrededor de un 3% de los episodios de IT de 5 días o más son atribuibles al tabaco, con una tendencia ascendente en ambos sexos. Es necesario continuar reforzando las políticas de prevención y control del tabaquismo para mejorar esta tendencia

Duración de los episodios de incapacidad temporal por contingencia común según regiones sanitarias en Cataluña

Fundamentos: En este estudio se analizó la duración de los episodios de incapacidad temporal por contingencia común en Cataluña según regiones sanitarias. Partiendo de la hipótesis de una distribución homogénea de las duraciones entre las regiones sanitarias. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte retrospectiva de 811.790 episodios obtenidos del Institut Català d�Avaluacions Mèdiques iniciados el año 2005 y seguidos hasta su finalización, cómo máximo julio de 2007, donde se describió la mediana de la duración en días de los episodios para cada una de las siete regiones sanitarias de Cataluña. La probabilidad de volver al trabajo se representó según las curvas de supervivencia de Wang_Chang y se comparó la duración mediana (DM) tomando como referencia la Región Sanitaria Barcelona, estratificando por sexo. Resultados: La región de Camp de Tarragona registra la menor duración de 5 días. Por contra, los episodios ocurridos en el Alt Pirineu i Aran presentaron una mayor duración de 13 días. Para la región de Barcelona la duración fue 7 días, al igual que para Cataluña Central. En Girona fue de 8 días, y en Lleida y Terres de l�Ebre de 9 días. Conclusiones: Existen diferencias significativas en las duraciones de los episodios entre las regiones sanitarias de Cataluña, que se mantienen después de ajustar por la edad, la gestión del episodio y el régimen de Seguridad Social, tanto para hombres como para mujere

Risk factors associated with asbestos-related diseases: a community-based case-control study

Abstract Background: Asbestos is a first level carcinogen. However, few epidemiological studies analyse the risk and protective factors associated with asbestos-related diseases and follow up these conditions in the general population. Pleural mesothelioma, caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres at work, at home or in the environment, is the most representative asbestos-related disease. The objectives of this study are to analyse the risk and protective factors associated with asbestos-related diseases and to investigate the incidence of new clinical manifestations in patients already diagnosed with some form of ARD. Methods/Design: We have designed a matched case-control study with follow up of both cohorts from a population of a health district of the Barcelona province that has been exposed to asbestos for a period of 90 years. Discussion: A better understanding of asbestos-related diseases should improve i) the clinical and epidemiological follow up of patients with this condition; ii) the design of new treatment strategies; iii) and the development of preventive activities. At the end of the study, the two cohorts created in this study (affected cases and healthy controls) will constitute the basis for future research

Risk factors associated with asbestos-related diseases: a community-based case-control study

Abstract Background: Asbestos is a first level carcinogen. However, few epidemiological studies analyse the risk and protective factors associated with asbestos-related diseases and follow up these conditions in the general population. Pleural mesothelioma, caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres at work, at home or in the environment, is the most representative asbestos-related disease. The objectives of this study are to analyse the risk and protective factors associated with asbestos-related diseases and to investigate the incidence of new clinical manifestations in patients already diagnosed with some form of ARD. Methods/Design: We have designed a matched case-control study with follow up of both cohorts from a population of a health district of the Barcelona province that has been exposed to asbestos for a period of 90 years. Discussion: A better understanding of asbestos-related diseases should improve i) the clinical and epidemiological follow up of patients with this condition; ii) the design of new treatment strategies; iii) and the development of preventive activities. At the end of the study, the two cohorts created in this study (affected cases and healthy controls) will constitute the basis for future research