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.
RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. gvh@rti.org
George
G
Van Houtven
W Randy
WR
Reed
Elyce A
EA
Biddle
John C
JC
Volkwein
Laurel
L
Clayton
Eric
E
Finkelstein
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*