Analysis of Mortality and Life Expectancy Determinants Among 5,791 Deceased Pneumoconiosis Patients - Jiangsu Province, China, 2011-2023

Abstract

Pneumoconiosis is the occupational disease with the highest proportion in China. This study conducted a retrospective analysis of 5,791 deceased pneumoconiosis patients. In this study, males comprised 93.02% of cases, with primary affected industries being mining (58.47%), manufacturing (20.55%), and public management (16.42%). Silicosis (69.42%) and coal worker's pneumoconiosis (20.57%) were the predominant diagnoses. Most patients (66.47%) were diagnosed at stage one. Significant differences were observed in both diagnosis age and post-diagnosis survival time across disease stages (P<0.05). The proportion of patients who died directly from lung infections was the highest (37.32%). The primary underlying causes of death in pneumoconiosis patients include pulmonary infections, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and digestive tract and lung tumors. Life expectancy for patients aged 30-35 years was 15.83 years. After excluding the effects of pulmonary infections, cardiovascular diseases, digestive tract tumors, and lung tumors, life expectancy increased by 3.75, 1.11, 1.31, and 0.63 years, respectively. Pneumoconiosis patients with concurrent lung tumors showed a 7.797-fold increased mortality risk, while pulmonary infections elevated mortality risk by 3.030-fold. Management strategies for pneumoconiosis should emphasize both primary disease treatment and comprehensive care for complications, particularly pulmonary infections, cardiovascular diseases, and malignancies. This integrated approach could extend survival time and enhance quality of life for affected patients.

Keywords: life table; pneumoconiosis; primary cause of death.

Figure 1

Survival curve of pneumoconiosis patients with concomitant lung infection/lung tumor.