Pneumoconiosis is a collection of diverse lung conditions brought on by mineral dust inhalation. It is a serious economic and social hazard that is present in the workplace. Notably, individuals with pneumoconiosis are more likely to develop pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Pneumoconiosis is unfortunately very common in China. However, since almost three decades ago, China has not conducted extensive population-based studies on the prevalence of PTB in patients with pneumoconiosis.
To close this gap, a group of researchers from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China, under the direction of Dr. Huanqiang Wang, recently carried out a study to comprehend the epidemiological traits of PTB and its risk factors in patients with pneumoconiosis in China. Their research was released in the 135th volume of the Chinese Medical Pneumoconiosis is a collection of diverse lung conditions brought on by mineral dust inhalation. It is a serious economic and social hazard that is present in the workplace. Notably, individuals with pneumoconiosis are more likely to develop pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Pneumoconiosis is unfortunately very common in China. However, since almost three decades ago, China has not conducted extensive population-based studies on the prevalence of PTB in patients with pneumoconiosis.
To close this gap, a group of researchers from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China, under the direction of Dr. Huanqiang Wang, recently carried out a study to comprehend the epidemiological traits of PTB and its risk factors in patients with pneumoconiosis in China. Their research was released in the 135th volume of the Chinese Medical
The “National Action Plan to Stop Tuberculosis” was published by China in 2019. Dr. Wang explains the motivations behind such an initiative and claims, “The cumulative number of pneumoconiosis cases reported in China by the end of 2021 was 915,000, with 13,000 new cases of the disease diagnosed annually on average over the previous ten years. Pneumoconiosis affects China more than any other country in the world. A respiratory infectious disease that poses a serious threat to people’s health, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is brought on by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection. It is recognized as a significant infectious disease in China and is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.”
The research team started a questionnaire-based survey to find out more about pneumoconiosis and its connection to PTB.Participants had to have a history of mineral dust exposure that was clear, have an abnormal chest X-ray in the posteroanterior view, and exhibit some disease-related symptoms. As part of the established protocol, the research team also made sure that other pulmonary diseases were differentially diagnosed. Then these patients interacted with trained occupational disease physicians and nurses. Patients with official occupational disease diagnostic certificates and patients with clinical diagnoses made in accordance with the GBZ 70-2015 Diagnosis of Occupational Pneumoconiosis comprised the pneumoconiosis cases.
