Silicosis mortality in Spain (1999–2020): A temporal and geographical approach

Germán Sánchez-Díaz; Greta Arias-Merino; Elisa Gallego; Rodrigo Sarmiento-Suárez; Verónica Alonso-Ferreira; Germán Sánchez-Díaz; Greta Arias-Merino; Elisa Gallego; Rodrigo Sarmiento-Suárez; Verónica Alonso-Ferreira

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2024036

AIMS Public Health

2024, Volume 11, Issue 3: 715-728. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024036

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Research article Special Issues

Silicosis mortality in Spain (1999–2020): A temporal and geographical approach

1.
Institute of Rare Diseases Research, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos 3–5, Pabellón 11, Planta 1, 28029 Madrid, Spain
2.
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Av. Monforte de Lemos 3–5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain

Received: 15 February 2024 Revised: 17 April 2024 Accepted: 23 April 2024 Published: 12 June 2024

Background
Silicosis is an occupational respiratory disease linked to silica dust inhalation. The main driver was traditional coal mining, but in recent decades, new sources of exposure have emerged. Our aim in this study was to assess the temporal and spatial distribution of mortality due to this disease over a 22-year period in Spain.

Methods
Silicosis records, as an Underlying Cause of Death, were extracted from the National Institute of Statistics from 1999 to 2020 using the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (code J62.8). Age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates per 1,000,000 inhabitants were calculated for the territory and by province. A geographic analysis was performed, and clusters of deaths were identified at the municipal level, and then the outcomes were compared in two periods of 11 years.

Results
There were 2618 deaths due to silicosis in Spain. The mean age of death increased significantly by 0.66% annually from 1999 to 2013. The age-adjusted mortality rate decreased by 7.30% per year, falling from 3.00 to 0.65 per 1,000,000 inhabitants. The temporal pattern showed a significant decrease of mortality rate in 31% of the provinces (16 out of 52), while it increased in Pontevedra. Regarding the spatial analysis, 11 clusters were found in both periods, but some variations were observed in terms of their distribution in the Spanish territory, as well as in the affected municipalities.

Conclusions
The decrease in mortality due to Silicosis could be related to less exposure to silica dust over the years and an improvement in the survival of those affected. It is thus essential to analyze the role of preventive measures for this occupational disease.
- mortality,
- silicosis,
- spatial epidemiology,
- time trends,
- occupational exposure,
- geographic analysis,
- mortality cluster
Citation: Germán Sánchez-Díaz, Greta Arias-Merino, Elisa Gallego, Rodrigo Sarmiento-Suárez, Verónica Alonso-Ferreira. Silicosis mortality in Spain (1999–2020): A temporal and geographical approach[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2024, 11(3): 715-728. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024036

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Abstract

Background

Silicosis is an occupational respiratory disease linked to silica dust inhalation. The main driver was traditional coal mining, but in recent decades, new sources of exposure have emerged. Our aim in this study was to assess the temporal and spatial distribution of mortality due to this disease over a 22-year period in Spain.

Methods

Silicosis records, as an Underlying Cause of Death, were extracted from the National Institute of Statistics from 1999 to 2020 using the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (code J62.8). Age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates per 1,000,000 inhabitants were calculated for the territory and by province. A geographic analysis was performed, and clusters of deaths were identified at the municipal level, and then the outcomes were compared in two periods of 11 years.

Results

There were 2618 deaths due to silicosis in Spain. The mean age of death increased significantly by 0.66% annually from 1999 to 2013. The age-adjusted mortality rate decreased by 7.30% per year, falling from 3.00 to 0.65 per 1,000,000 inhabitants. The temporal pattern showed a significant decrease of mortality rate in 31% of the provinces (16 out of 52), while it increased in Pontevedra. Regarding the spatial analysis, 11 clusters were found in both periods, but some variations were observed in terms of their distribution in the Spanish territory, as well as in the affected municipalities.

Conclusions

The decrease in mortality due to Silicosis could be related to less exposure to silica dust over the years and an improvement in the survival of those affected. It is thus essential to analyze the role of preventive measures for this occupational disease.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Spanish Strategy Action for Health (AESI), project no. IERPY 387/23 (PI23CIII/00037).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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