ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.19, No 4, 2023

https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2023.04.294

State of lung tissue in miners afflicted with interstitial lung diseases

Lashko O.M., Mukha Yu.Yu.
State institution "Kundiiev Institute of Occupational Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine", Kyiv

Full article (PDF): ENG / UKR

Introduction. Within the landscape of occupational morbidity in Ukraine, the pathology of the broncho-pulmonary apparatus takes a prominent position, constituting 3 percent of the total. Chronic bronchitis and pneumoconiosis are prevalent among Ukrainian workers, particularly within the mining sector. Interstitial diseases, highly prevalent in industries with adverse working conditions like coal, mining, and metallurgy, pose a multifaceted threat to workers. Recognized as a significant and burdensome health issue, interstitial diseases contribute to disability, mortality, and substantial socio-economic costs on both national and global scales. The delayed diagnosis of these diseases, often occurring in advanced stages, hinders the effectiveness of rehabilitation, making early diagnosis a critical priority for preserving the health of the working population.

Objective. This study aims to evaluate the state of lung tissue in miners of key professions affected by interstitial lung diseases by analyzing lung tissue density indicators through computer densitometry.

Materials and methods. The research involved a cohort of 30 miners from the coal mining industry in Donbas diagnosed with pneumoconiosis, including patients with residual fibrotic changes from COVID-19, analyzed using computer densitometry.

The results. Findings revealed that the average density of lung tissue is -733.3±55.4 HU, lower than in the general population. This indicator correlated with the duration of exposure to harmful working conditions, particularly during periods of maximum dust load on respiratory organs. Interestingly, the density indicator did not exhibit dependency on the patients' age.

Conclusions. The pursuit of innovative approaches to primary prevention and prognostication of interstitial lung diseases persists. Insights derived from density measurements of fibrotic lung parenchyma contribute to understanding the impact of occupational factors, facilitating the timely implementation of preventive measures to curb disease development and progression.

Keywords: interstitial lung diseases, computer densitometry, COVID-19, pneumoconiosis.

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