The problem of incidence rate among workers of the main professions of the coal mining industry is traditionally considered from the perspective of occupational pathologies. At the same time, the issues of the spread of production-related somatic diseases among this category of the employable population are undeservedly left without due attention. The objective of the study was assessing the frequency of somatic pathology occurrence in workers of coal pits in the South of Kuzbass. 489 workers of the main professions of coal pits in the South of the Kemerovo region were examined (men aged 22 to 55 years, who were randomized into 2 groups according to the level of exposure to a complex of unfavorable factors of the production environment). The first group with a higher level of exposure to harmful and hazardous production factors of class 3.3 and 3.4 included 196 people: machinists of mining and technological equipment, machinists of drilling rigs, explosives; the second group with the level of danger and harmfulness of class 3.1 and 3.2 consisted of 293 workers, namely, drivers of technological motor vehicles. The study of the frequency of somatic pathology was carried out depending on the length of work experience and the age of the subjects. Each group was divided into subgroups: by the age and work experience. In group 1, somatic pathologies were detected in 52.0% of the cases, in group 2 - in 44.4% (χ2=2.772, p=0.096). In the structure of somatic diseases in the group with a higher class of danger and harmfulness, diseases of the circulatory system (38.24%), diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (12.75%) and diseases of the nervous system (8.82%) prevailed; in the group with a lower hazard class there were also diseases of the circulatory system (33.85%), diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (14.62%), diseases of the nervous system (12.31%). The frequency of somatic diseases is recorded in a direct linear relationship with the work experience and age of coal pit workers. Limitations. This study is limited to a sample of workers in the main professions of coal pits undergoing periodic medical examinations at the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. Conclusion. In the structure of somatic diseases of workers of the main professions of coal pits in the South of Kuzbass, three nosological forms occupy a leading position: diseases of the circulatory system, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, and the nervous system. Among the surveyed workers employed in coal pits with a higher level of exposure to harmful and hazardous production factors, a 100% incidence of somatic diseases was revealed among the respondents aged more than 41 years and with work experience over 21 years. These data should be taken into account when carrying out periodic medical examinations, preventive medical examinations, for the development and implementation of therapeutic and prophylactic measures and post-shift rehabilitation programs. Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with the standards of the Bioethical Committee of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, established in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of the World Association "Ethical Principles for Conducting Human Scientific Medical Research" as amended in 2013 and the "Rules of Clinical Practice in the Russian Federation", approved by the Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 266 of 19.06.2003. All subjects signed an informed consent to participate in the study.

No abstract

Introduction. The coal industry occupies an important place in the Kuzbass industry, which involves a significant part of the employable-age population. Early detection of reduced myocardial contractility among coal industry workers, which develops as a result of arterial hypertension, will prevent the development of cardiovascular complications that can lead to disability or lethal outcome.The objective of the study was to evaluate the structural and functional parameters of the left ventricle in workers with and without arterial hypertension employed in coal industry enterprises with different methods of coal mining.Material and methods. The study included 178 coal mine workers and 112 open-pit coal mine workers aged from 40 to 55 years. All subjects underwent echocardiography to determine the geometric and functional parameters of the left ventricle and to assess its global longitudinal deformation.Results. Concentric remodeling of the left ventricle was revealed in open-pit coal mine workers with arterial hypertension. Its ejection fraction in all groups was within normal values but was lower in open pit coal mine workers with arterial hypertension (p=0.012). The global longitudinal strain of the left ventricle was significantly less in individuals with arterial hypertension (p<0.0001). In groups with normal blood pressure, it was significantly lower among miners than in open-pit coal mine workers (p=0.020).Conclusion. Concentric remodeling of the left ventricular myocardium was detected only in the workers of coal mines with arterial hypertension. Among the miners and open-pit coal mine workers with arterial hypertension with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction, a decrease in the longitudinal deformation of the left ventricular myocardium was recorded. Among the workers of the coal industry without arterial hypertension, a decrease in the longitudinal strain of the left ventricle was observed only in miners, which may be due to the influence of a complex of harmful factors of working in underground conditions.

Introduction. The problem of high mortality from cardiovascular diseases is caused, among other things, by asymptomatic atherosclerosis, which proceeds latently for a long time and manifests itself as a serious vascular catastrophe, which is of particular importance for people working at production facilities with difficult and dangerous working conditions.The aim of the study was to assess the risk factors for atherosclerosis and the state of the vascular wall in the workers of the main professions of coal enterprises in the South of Kuzbass.Material and methods. In total, the study included 384 people (men), of whom 266 were the workers in coal mines in the South of Kuzbass and 118 people who were not employed in the coal industry, aged 40 to 55 years. The diagnosis of atherosclerosis was carried out on the ultrasound system “Vivid E9” of the manufacturing company GE using a linear sensor for measuring the thickness of the intima-media complex and visualization of atherosclerotic plaques. To identify significant risk factors, anthropometric, anamnestic data, indices of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and the presence of arterial hypertension were studied.Results. Significant differences in the frequency of asymptomatic atherosclerosis in the form of an increase in intima-media thickness by more than 1 mm and / or the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in both groups were not found: 60.2% among the miners and 62.3% among non-coal mining workers (p=0.703); at the same time, the percentage of detection of atherosclerotic plaques in arteries was significantly lower among coal workers — 46.9% versus 60.5% among people in the comparison group (p=0.016). The common risk factors for all examined subjects were arterial hypertension and increased level of glycated hemoglobin; in turn, in coal miners additional risk factors were increased values of low density lipoproteins and waist-hip index, as well as burdened heredity for cardiovascular diseases, and among the individuals not employed in the coal industry it was smoking.Conclusions. The most significant risk factors for atherosclerosis in coal industry workers were arterial hypertension, raised values of glycated hemoglobin, low density lipoproteins and waist-hip index, as well as burdened heredity for cardiovascular diseases. Significant differences in the frequency of asymptomatic atherosclerosis in the form of an increase in the thickness of the intima-media complex of the main arteries and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in both groups were not established, but the percentage of the detection of atherosclerotic plaques was lower among coal miners.The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Introduction. There are data on the effects of dust on the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. The main measures for preventing diseases of the circulatory system aimed to identify and eliminate risk factors. However, the prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease among coal mine workers with anthracosilicosis has not been sufficiently studied, determining the study's relevance. The study aimed to learn the frequency of risk factors for coronary heart disease in coal industry workers with anthracosilicosis. Materials and methods. We examined 269 miners working in conditions of dustiness exceeding the maximum permissible concentration by ten or more times: 139 miners with a previously established diagnosis of anthracosilicosis and 130 miners of the control group without dust pathology of the lungs. All of them underwent a comprehensive clinical, instrumental, and laboratory examination of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems to detect anthracosilicosis and coronary heart disease, as well as to assess its risk factors. Results. In miners with anthracosilicosis, coronary heart disease was 3.5 times more common (30.94%) than in the control group (8.46%). We have identified a high incidence of coronary heart disease in the age group of 45 and more years and with the experience of working in dust conditions of 20 and more years. In miners with anthracosilicosis combined with coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension was 1.6 times more common (58.14%) than without concomitant coronary heart disease - 35.42%. Miners with a combination of anthracosilicosis and coronary heart disease were three times more likely (20.93%) than those without coronary heart disease (6.25%) to have a metabolic syndrome. According to the Tanner index, significant risk factors for coronary heart disease were the presence of an andromorphic constitutional-morphological type and the formation of a complication of anthracosilicosis - respiratory failure. The evaluation of biochemical blood tests showed that the most significant markers of coronary heart disease risk were hyperhomocysteinemia, increased levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and soluble fibrin-monomer complexes. Conclusions. We found that the most significant risk of developing coronary heart disease in miners is 45 years and older. There are also other risk factors: work experience in harmful working conditions of 20 years or more; the presence of arterial hypertension; metabolic syndrome; andromorphic constitutional-morphological type according to the Tanner index. Risk factors are respiratory failure, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, increased soluble fibrin-monomer complexes, and C - reactive protein. It is necessary to consider all risks in developing programs of medical and preventive measures for employees of the coal industry.