[Occupational diseases in Poland, 2008].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the paper was to present basic statistical data on occupational diseases diagnosed in 2008.


METHODS
The work was based on the data compiled from "Occupational Disease Reporting Forms" received by the Central Register of Occupational Diseases in 2008. The data comprised information on nosologic units, gender and age of patients, and duration of occupational exposure to harmful agents responsible for the development of specified pathologies. These data were further classified by sectors of the national economy and voivodeships. The incidence was specified in terms of the number of cases in relation to paid employees or to employed persons.


RESULTS
The number of occupational diseases diagnosed in 2008 accounted for 3546 cases. The incidence rate was 34.7 cases per 100,000 paid employees. The highest incidence rates were noted for infectious and parasitic diseases (9.4/100,000), chronic voice disorders (7.9) and pneumoconioses (6.8). As many as 77.9% of patients affected by occupational diseases had been exposed to harmful agents for longer than 20 years. In industrial sectors of the national economy, the highest incidence rate was noted in the coal mining industry (416.3 cases per 100,000). The highest incidence rates were recorded in the Lubelskie (75.5), Silesian (66.3) and Podlaskie (60.7) voivodeships.


CONCLUSIONS
An increase of 261 (7.9%) cases of occupational diseases and an increase of 3.6% in their incidence rate over the previous year were noted in 2008. The greatest increase was noted in infectious and parasitic diseases (of 285 cases, i.e. 42.5%) and chronic diseases of the locomotor system (of 22 cases i.e. 22.4%).
Wilczyńska
Urszula
U
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera, Lódź, Zakład Epidemiologii Srodowiskowej.
Szeszenia-Dabrowska
Neonila
N
Szymczak
Wiesław
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors