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. 2019 Mar;62(3):183-191.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.22944. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Silicosis prevalence and incidence among Medicare beneficiaries

Megan L Casey  1 , Jacek M Mazurek  1
Affiliations

Silicosis prevalence and incidence among Medicare beneficiaries

Megan L Casey et al. Am J Ind Med. 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Introduction: Existing epidemiologic information on silicosis relies on mortality data.

Methods: We analyzed health insurance claims and enrollment information from 49 923 987 fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 from 1999 to 2014. Three different definitions were developed to identify silicosis cases and results are presented as ranges of values for the three definitions.

Results: Among FFS beneficiaries, 10 026-19 696 fit the silicosis case definitions (16-year prevalence: 20.1-39.5 per 100 000) with the highest prevalence among North American Natives (87.2-213.6 per 100 000) and those in New Mexico (83.9-203.4 per 100 000). The annual average prevalence had a significant (P < 0.05) 2-5% annual decline from 2005 to 2014. The average annual number of incident cases had a significant 3-16% annual decline from 2007 to 2014.

Conclusions: Silicosis is a prevalent disease among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65, with variation across the country. Morbidity data from health insurance claims can provide a more complete picture of silicosis burden.

Keywords: Medicare; insurance; silicosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE (AUTHORS)

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Silicosis prevalence per 100 000 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries by case definition and state, 1999–2014. Shading denotes quartiles of state silicosis prevalence
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Annual number and rate of prevalent silicosis cases among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, by case definition, 1999–2014
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Silicosis incidence per 100 000 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, by case definition and state, 2010–2014. Shading denotes quartiles of state silicosis incidence. Incident cases had at least 3 years of continuous Medicare coverage without a silicosis (ICD-9-CM = “502”) claim during that period. The denominator in the incidence rates are FFS beneficiaries who had at least 3 years of continuous enrollment in Medicare
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Annual number and rate of incident silicosis cases among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, by case definition, 2002–2014. Incident cases had at least 3 years of continuous Medicare coverage without a silicosis (ICD-9-CM = “502”) claim during that period. The denominator in the incidence rates are FFS beneficiaries who had at least 3 years of continuous enrollment in Medicare
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References

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