ASPECTOS DEMOGRÁFICOS, EPIDEMIOLÓGICOS E CLÍNICOS DE PACIENTES PORTADORES DE SILICOSE DO HOSPITAL DAS CLÍNICAS DA UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE GOIÁS

Abstract

Introduction: Silicosis, a disease characterized by pulmonary fibrosis associated with inhalation of particles containing crystalline silica, is the most prevalent pneumoconiosis in Brazil and worldwide, although considered preventable. Objective: To describe and analyze demographic, epidemiological and clinical aspects of patients with silicosis recorded in a pulmonology department of an university hospital. Materials and methods: retrospective cross-sectional survey of demographic, epidemiological and clinical records in the outpatient pulmonary diseases diffuse parenchymal Hospital of Goiás were analyzed official data reporting. Radiographs and CT scans of chest high-resolution were analyzed by experienced observers and compared with standard ILO. Results and conclusions: we identified 76 cases of silicosis between 1991 and 2011. There were no reported cases of silicosis to the same period in Midwest region. The patients were all young adult males with significantly frequent origin of Goias and who exercised occupational activities concentrated in the area of the mining industry. We observed a significant association between duration of exposure and the clinical form of the disease and presented a high concentration of presentation of silicosis in the accelerated and chronic forms. All patients reported symptoms such as cough, dyspnea, wheezing and coughing and individuals reported smoking (66.25%) and alcohol (42.5%) as associated conditions. There was a high number of patients with tuberculosis, especially in the most severe clinical forms. Those 20 chest radiographs analyzed, it was observed 85.0% with large opacities and 15.0% with small opacities. We analyzed nine CT technique with high resolution and predominated confluent micronodules and masses in the upper lobes, compatible with the recorded average exposure time (8.1 years) and with accelerated clinical form, which was prevalent in the study sample.