Rates and costs of respiratory illness in coal mining: a cross-industry comparative analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence and costs of respiratory illness for workers in coal mining, compared with other US industries.


METHODS
Using 5 years of insurance claims data for an annual average of 96,240 adult males, we model the probability and costs of respiratory illness as a function of workers' industry and other factors.


RESULTS
Controlling for nonindustry factors, workers in coal mining had significantly higher rates of respiratory illness claims (by 2.1% to 3.3% points) compared with other mining, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. For coal mining workers with respiratory illness, annual medical care costs for these claims were also significantly higher (by $111 to $289). Surprisingly, drug costs were mostly lower (by $17 to $268).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings underscore the continued importance and potential cost effectiveness of measures to protect miners from harmful occupational exposures, particularly to coal dust.
Van Houtven
George
G
RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. gvh@rti.org
Reed
W Randy
WR
Biddle
Elyce A
EA
Volkwein
John C
JC
Clayton
Laurel
L
Finkelstein
Eric
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003032:Coal Mining / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*