Risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension in patients with anthracosilicosis

Abstract

Introduction. Prolonged exposure to coal-rock dust affects the formation of the pathology of the bronchopulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Pneumoconiosis occupies one of the leading places among occupational diseases. On the other hand, arterial hypertension occupies a top place among production-related diseases. Timely identification and correction of traditional and professional risk factors is a main point in preventing diseases of the circulatory system in workers in harmful working conditions. Thus, identifying the most significant risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension of miners with anthracosilicosis is an urgent task. The study aims to identify the most significant professional and non-professional risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension in miners with anthracosilicosis. Material and methods. We examined 269 miners working in underground dust conditions: 139 miners with a previously established diagnosis of anthracosilicosis and 130 miners of the control group without dust pathology of the lungs. The researchers conducted a comprehensive laboratory and clinical and instrumental examination to detect arterial hypertension and risk factors for the development of cardiovascular pathology. Results. Arterial hypertension among miners with anthracosilicosis is two times more common (42.4%) than in the control group (20.8%). Miners aged 50 years and older have the greatest risk of developing arterial hypertension. Also, the presence of fasting hyperglycemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, abdominal type of obesity, hypersthenic constitutional-morphological type according to the Rice-Eysenck index, blood group AB (IV). We identified professional risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension: work experience in harmful working conditions of 25 years or more, the level of the dustiness of the active area exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations by ten or more times. Conclusions. In coal mine workers with anthracosilicosis, arterial hypertension is more common than in the control group, which may indicate that this occupational pathology is an independent risk factor for the development of arterial hypertension. Scientists identified the most significant professional and non-professional risk factors, the elimination of which will reduce the likelihood of developing arterial hypertension in miners with anthracosilicosis.