{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: [Compensation of occupational diseases during monitoring of the ARDCO cohort].
{Author}: Gislard A;Gramond C;Clin B;Paris C;Delva F;Brochard P;Laurent F;Benoist J;Andujar P;Chouaïd C;Thaon I;Boudet L;Pairon JC;
{Journal}: Rev Mal Respir
{Volume}: 41
{Issue}: 7
{Year}: 2024 Sep 25
{Factor}: 0.714
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.rmr.2024.06.010
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Questions concerning under-reporting of occupational diseases (OD) linked to asbestos exposure are regularly voiced in France. Monitoring of the French multicenter Asbestos-Related Disease Cohort (ARDCO), which ensures post-occupational medical surveillance of subjects having been exposed to asbestos, provides information on (1) the medico-legal steps taken following screening by computed tomography (CT) for benign thoracic diseases, and (2) recognition of OD as a causal factor in malignant diseases.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>OD recognition - and possible compensation - was analyzed in July 2021 among 13,289 volunteers in the cohort recruited between 2003 and 2005.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Fifteen percent of the subjects in the cohort were found to have at least one recognized asbestos-related OD (78.2% benign pleural disease, 10.3% asbestosis, 14.2% lung cancer, and 6.0% mesothelioma). Only 58% of pleural plaques reported by the radiologist who performed the CT resulted in their recognition as ODs. On a parallel track, 88.7% of the mesotheliomas identified based on French National health insurance data and 46.9% of lung cancers were recognized as ODs.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>This study confirms the feasibility of a system designed to facilitate recognition, leading to possible compensation, of asbestos-related occupational diseases. The system could be improved by better training of the medical actors involved.