Trends in pneumoconiosis in Brazil, 1979-2019.

Background: Pneumoconiosis is a lung disease related to exposure to dust in the workplace. The disease can induce irreversible damage to health, especially in lung tissue, and can cause progressive and permanent physical disabilities.

Aims: This study evaluated the temporal and spatial distribution of mortality rates (1979-2019) and hospital admissions (1995-2019) for pneumoconiosis in Brazil.

Methods: The outcomes were hospitalization and death due to pneumoconiosis: codes 500-506 according to the ICD-9 and J60-J66 according to the ICD-10. Data from this retrospective ecological study were collected from the Brazilian Ministry of Health database.

Results: Hospitalization for pneumoconiosis has decreased in all regions of Brazil. Hospitalizations occurred predominantly in men aged over 40 years. Death rates showed a temporal increase in all regions. Deaths occurred predominantly in men aged over 50 years. The highest hospitalization and death rates were in the states of the Midwest and South Regions.

Conclusions: Pneumoconiosis is a preventable occupational disease, and ongoing occurrences of hospitalizations and deaths highlight the importance of inspecting industries and controlling occupational and environmental exposures.