From 1991 to 2023 in the United States, pneumoconiosis mortality fell by 51.08%, DALYs dropped by 47.12%, and incidence decreased by 23.62%, while prevalence increased by 69.34%.
Observational
Yes
While pneumoconiosis mortality and incidence have declined in the US from 1991 to 2023, prevalence has nearly doubled, indicating improved survival and accumulation of chronic cases.
Abstract Aim Pneumoconiosis is a group of chronic occupational lung diseases caused by inhalation of mineral dust particles leading to inflammation and fibrosis. This study is to characterize the disease burden through disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), incidence, prevalence and mortality rates from year 1991 to 2023 across the nation. Methods Global Burden of Disease database was utilized to obtain incidence, prevalence, DALYs and death rates of pneumoconiosis for all sex and age from all U.S states from 1991 to 2023. The change is calculated in percent. Results Nationally, the total pneumoconiosis mortality fell by 51.08%. DALYs to pneumoconiosis likewise dropped by 47.12%. Annual incidence of pneumoconiosis decreased more modestly, by 23.62%. In contrast, the prevalence of pneumoconiosis nearly doubled over this period, rising 69.34%. This substantial increase in living cases aligns with global trends (∼66% increase in pneumoconiosis cases from 1990-2017). There were large geographic differences in pneumoconiosis burden. In 1991, the state with the highest pneumoconiosis mortality was Pennsylvania (n = 394), which also led in total DALYs (n = 6812). The most populous states dominated non-fatal metrics - California had the highest incidence (n = 1,663) and prevalence (n = 1,493) in 1991. Despite overall decline, Pennsylvania still incurred the most pneumoconiosis deaths (n = 65) and DALYs (n = 1,160), while California remained highest in incidence (n = 1,479) and prevalence (n = 3,039). Broad declines in pneumoconiosis burden were observed across most of the United States from 1991 to 2023. Historically high-burden mining regions in Appalachia (e.g. Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia) showed substantial absolute declines in mortality and incidence, yet many of these states remain among the highest in pneumoconiosis burden in 2023. Conclusion Overall, the geographic pattern of pneumoconiosis burden in 2023 still highlights legacy industrial exposures - with Appalachian coal mining states and several large-population states (California, Ohio, Florida, New York) accounting for the greatest burdens - even though the incidence, DALYs and death rates have improved over the years. Increased prevalence likely reflects improved survival hence accumulation of chronic cases. These findings emphasize that regulatory actions and workplace safety improvements have been effective but not uniformly sufficient. Continued surveillance is necessary to identify and address emerging occupational risks. Sustained prevention efforts, targeted interventions in high-burden regions, and enhanced long-term management strategies are essential to achieving further reductions and advancing worker respiratory health nationwide. This abstract is funded by: None
Lim et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Pneumoconiosis. From 1991 to 2023 in the United States, pneumoconiosis mortality fell by 51.08%, DALYs dropped by 47.12%, and incidence decreased by 23.62%, while prevalence increased by 69.34%.