Severity of silicosis at compensation between medically screened and unscreened workers.
OBJECTIVE
Most developed countries have medical surveillance programs for some of the workers (typically miners) exposed to silica, but the impact of these programs is not documented.


METHODS
Clinical data from 1388 compensated silicotic workers in Quebec, Canada, were used. The severity of disease at compensation was compared between workers in the surveillance program and those who were not.


RESULTS
Predicted vital capacity at less than 80% at compensation was less likely among workers under surveillance than among those who were not (odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval 0.44-0.80); the occurrence of a radiological image with large opacities and profusion of category 1/1 or more was also less likely in the group with surveillance (odds ratio = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.39-0.92).


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate a benefit from medical surveillance but alternative explanations are discussed.
Infante-Rivard
Claire
C
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1130 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3A 1A3. claire.infante-rivard@mcgill.ca
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011792:Quebec; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012829:Silicosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D014942:Workers' Compensation