Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance

Discussion: CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Background Information

The Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance Report 2002 is the sixth in a series of occupational respiratory disease surveillance reports produced by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. These reports provide information on various work-related respiratory diseases and associated exposures in the United States.

Key findings abstracted from Section 10, "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease," are based on the National Center for Health Statistics multiple-cause-of-death data files. Information on the methodology and the data sources used in the Report can be found in the Appendices.

Findings

Coal mining led the list of industries with significantly elevated proportionate
mortality ratios (PMRs) for COPD in 1999. Two other mining sectors were in the
top five industries for COPD mortality, as were trucking service and automotive
repair and related services (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. COPD: Proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) adjusted for age, sex, and race by usual industry, U.S. residents age 15 and over, selected state, 1999. For a complete list of all industries with a significantly elevated PMR for COPD mortality, see Table 10-1 of the WoRLD Surveillance Report 2002.

The top five occupations with significantly elevated PMRs for COPD in 1999
are listed below (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. COPD: Proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) adjusted for age, sex, and race by usual occupation, U.S. residents age 15 and over, selected state, 1999. For a complete list of all occupations with a significantly elevated PMR for COPD mortality, see Table 10-2 of the WoRLD Surveillance Report 2002.