title: Occupational carbon monoxide poisoning among West Virginia workers' compensation claims: diagnosis, treatment duration, and utilization.
abstract: Incidence rates and characterizations of occupational carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in terms of sources of exposures, diagnosis, treatment, and health care utilization are critical for public health planning. We identified 182 CO poisoning cases occurring over a 6-year period (IR = 4.3/100000 worker-years) in the West Virginia workers' compensation data. Frequent sources of poisoning were gas-powered engines (28%) and furnaces (20%). Minimum treatment duration ranged from 1 day to 8 years with significant differences in mental health comorbidities between cases treated within 1 year compared with cases treated for more than 1 year (OR = 20.75; 95% CI = 3.5-128.4). The average cost (medical and wage loss replacement) for CO claims was dollars 2130 and median lost time was 45 days. CO poisoning could lead to prolonged disability and treatment in patients with mental health comorbidities, suggesting a possible role for early intervention.
authors.affiliation: Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Department of Public Health, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Sarper
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.forename: Syed S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ducatman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015980:Public Health Practice; D013997:Time Factors; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational