title: Lung transplantation is increasingly common among patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) in U.S. coal miners has increased, and severe presentations are increasingly common.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe trends in lung transplantation during 1996-2014 for recipients with a primary diagnosis of CWP or pneumoconiosis unspecified, and we summarize recipient characteristics and estimate survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 47 transplants were included; nearly three-quarters were performed during 2008-2014. All recipients were male, 96% were white, and the mean age was 56 years. Mean FEV1 % was 35%; mean FVC% was 53%. Mean time on a waitlist was 155 days, and 60% of transplants were bilateral. Median survival was 3.7 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These transplants reflect the use of a scarce resource for an entirely preventable disease, and highlight the need for enhanced efforts to reduce coal mine dust exposures.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety Health, Respiratory Health Division, Surveillance Branch, Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Blackley
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety Health, Respiratory Health Division, Surveillance Branch, Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Cara N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Halldin
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Respiratory Health Division, Field Studies Branch, Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Kristin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety Health, Respiratory Health Division, Surveillance Branch, Morgantown, West Virginia.|Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Respiratory Health Division, Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: A Scott
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Laney
mesh_terms: D055008:Anthracosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States; D014797:Vital Capacity; D014850:Waiting Lists
keywords: coal mining; coal workers’ pneumoconiosis; lung transplantation; occupational lung disease