UNASSIGNED: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on ceramic workers undergoing health surveillance using chest radiographs in one ceramic factory in September 2018. All chest radiographs were done retrospectively, then were reinterpreted by professional readers specially trained in using the ILO International Classification of Radiograph of Pneumoconioses (ILO/ICRP). Chest radiographs with a profusion of 1/1 or greater were suggestive of silicosis.
UNASSIGNED: Out of the 244 participants undergoing chest radiography, the prevalence of silicosis was 2.9%. Overall, the mean age of the participants was 41 years, and 72.1% were female. Among individuals with silicosis, the median age was 43 years; 71.4% were male; the average employment duration was 26.9 years; while the male sex was the significant variable associated with silicosis with an odds ratio of 7.01 (95% confidence interval 1.31 to 37.4). Regarding the underdiagnosis, the health check-up unit failed to recognize all individuals with silicosis, and could not detect any radiographic chest abnormalities in 57.1% of those with silicosis.
UNASSIGNED: Despite the low prevalence of silicosis among Thai ceramic workers, this finding indicates ongoing exposure to silica in the ceramic industry. In addition, a significant proportion of the silicosis cases were underrecognized. Future efforts to prevent underdiagnosis and improve an occupational health surveillance service in Thailand are needed.
■这项回顾性横断面研究是针对2018年9月在一家陶瓷厂使用胸部X光片进行健康监测的陶瓷工人进行的。所有胸部X光片都是回顾性的,然后由受过专门培训的专业读者重新解释使用国际劳工组织国际肺气肿放射学分类(ILO/ICRP)。1/1或以上的胸部X光片提示矽肺。
■在接受胸部X线检查的244名参与者中,矽肺病的患病率为2.9%。总的来说,参与者的平均年龄是41岁,72.1%为女性。在患有矽肺病的个体中,中位年龄为43岁;71.4%为男性;平均工作时间为26.9年;而男性是与矽肺相关的显著变量,比值比为7.01(95%置信区间1.31~37.4).关于诊断不足,健康检查单位未能识别所有患有矽肺的人,57.1%的矽肺病患者未发现任何X线胸部异常。
■尽管泰国陶瓷工人的矽肺患病率较低,这一发现表明陶瓷工业持续接触二氧化硅。此外,相当比例的矽肺病病例未得到充分认可.需要进一步努力防止诊断不足并改善泰国的职业健康监视服务。