The PMF (Pulmonary massive Fibrosis) and the Exposure period to the Respirable Coal Dust

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between pulmonary massive fibrosis and duration of dust exposure in patients with coal worker pneumoconiosis.

Study Design: A cross sectional descriptive study.

Place and Duration of Study:  This study was carried out in the Medicine department of Saidu Teaching Hospital Saidu Sharif swat from Jan 2007 to Dec 2011.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty (120) patients suffering from coal worker pneumoconiosis were included. They were either already diagnosed patients of coal worker pneumoconiosis or newly diagnosed symptomatic patients.

Results: Forty four(36.6%) had simple coal worker pneumoconiosis, Forty six (38.3%) had complicated coal worker pneumoconiosis and thirty (25%) had PMF, in which twenty patients(66.6%) had exposure of more than twenty years. The results were analysed using the chisquaretest with a p value of 0.00000472.There is clear association between PMF and exposure period to the respirable coal dust.

Conclusion: We conclude that prolonged period of exposure has association with the development of PMF.