Cost-Effectiveness of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Prevention Based on Its Predicted Incidence within the Datong Coal Mine Group in China

Abstract

We aimed to estimate the economic losses currently caused by coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) and, on the basis of these measurements, confirm the economic benefit of preventive measures. Our cohort study included 1,847 patients with CWP and 43,742 coal workers without CWP who were registered in the employment records of the Datong Coal Mine Group. We calculated the cumulative incidence rate of pneumoconiosis using the life-table method. We used the dose-response relationship between cumulative incidence density and cumulative dust exposure to predict the future trend in the incidence of CWP. We calculate the economic loss caused by CWP and economic effectiveness of CWP prevention by a step-wise model. The cumulative incidence rates of CWP in the tunneling, mining, combining, and helping cohorts were 58.7%, 28.1%, 21.7%, and 4.0%, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates increased gradually with increasing cumulative dust exposure (CDE). We predicted 4,300 new CWP cases, assuming the dust concentrations remained at the levels of 2011. If advanced dustproof equipment was adopted, 537 fewer people would be diagnosed with CWP. In all, losses of 1.207 billion Renminbi (RMB, official currency of China) would be prevented and 4,698.8 healthy life years would be gained. Investments in advanced dustproof equipment would be total 843 million RMB, according to our study; the ratio of investment to restored economic losses was 1:1.43. Controlling workplace dust concentrations is critical to reduce the onset of pneumoconiosis and to achieve economic benefits.

Exosomal miRNA Profiling to Identify Nanoparticle Phagocytic Mechanisms

“…Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), one subtype of pneumoconiosis, is stipulated occupationally by laws in China and many other countries worldwide . Up to now, a great amount of medical and financial resource is wasted in dealing with pneumoconiosis yearly . According to the occupational prevention and control report released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China in 2015, a total of 26, 873 new patients occurred in 2014, accounting for 89.66% of all reported occupational cases.…”

Estimates and Predictions of Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis Cases among Redeployed Coal Workers of the Fuxin Mining Industry Group in China: A Historical Cohort Study

“…The diagnosis of CWP was based on the “Diagnostic criteria of pneumoconiosis” and corresponding standard films of pneumoconiosis in China [ 21 ]. The Chinese “Diagnostic criteria of pneumoconiosis” was formulated based on the “Guidelines for the use of the International Labor Organization international classification of radiographs of pneumoconiosis” [ 22 ]. The diagnosis of pneumoconiosis was based on Chinese diagnostic criteria of pneumoconiosis and corresponding standard films of pneumoconiosis, and was made by five qualified experts, who were all members of the Pneumoconiosis Diagnosis Committee, with the records of historical exposure to dust and chest X-ray [ 21 , 22 ].…”

Coal mine dust lung disease in the modern era

“…In China, which has a high prevalence of CWP, the future medical treatment, welfare and associated costs were estimated in 1986 and 1992 to approximate 0.4% of its gross domestic product, thereby placing a substantial burden on its economy . Furthermore in China, there have been attempts to economically evaluate preventative strategies including the use of advanced protective equipment …”

“…66 Furthermore in China, there have been attempts to economically evaluate preventative strategies including the use of advanced protective equipment. 67 Even in high-income countries, the increasing CWP prevalence is still of great concern. In Australia, there has been a call to standardize recommended exposure parameters and monitoring procedures, to implement a comprehensive screening programme and establish a centralized occupational lung disease register.…”