Cree Marilyn W, Lalji Munira, Jiang Bei, Carriere Keumhee C
Department of Prevention, Alberta Cancer Board, Alberta, Canada.
Am J Ind Med. 2009 Jul;52(7):526-33. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20705.
When combined with a history of occupational asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is often presumed work-related. In Canada, workers diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by occupational asbestos exposure are often eligible for compensation under provincial workers' compensation boards. Although occupational asbestos exposure causes the majority of mesothelioma, Canadian research suggests less than half of workers actually apply for compensation. Alberta's mandatory reporting requirements may produce higher filing rates but this is currently unknown. This study evaluates Alberta's mesothelioma filing and compensation rates.
Demographic information on all mesothelioma patients diagnosed between 1980 and 2004 were extracted from the Alberta Cancer Board's Cancer Registry and linked to Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta claims data.
Alberta recorded a total of 568 histologically confirmed mesothelioma cases between 1980 and 2004. Forty-two percent of cases filed a claim; 83% of filed claims were accepted for compensation.
Patient under-reporting of compensable mesothelioma is a problem and raises larger questions regarding under-reporting of other asbestos-related cancers in Alberta. Strategies should focus on increasing filing rates where appropriate.
当间皮瘤与职业性石棉接触史相关联时，通常会被认定与工作有关。在加拿大，被诊断为由职业性石棉接触导致间皮瘤的工人通常有资格根据省级工人赔偿委员会的规定获得赔偿。虽然职业性石棉接触是导致大多数间皮瘤的原因，但加拿大的研究表明，实际申请赔偿的工人不到一半。艾伯塔省的强制报告要求可能会使申请率更高，但目前尚不清楚。本研究评估了艾伯塔省间皮瘤的申请率和赔偿率。
从艾伯塔癌症委员会的癌症登记处提取了1980年至2004年间所有被诊断为间皮瘤患者的人口统计学信息，并与艾伯塔省工人赔偿委员会的索赔数据相关联。
1980年至2004年间，艾伯塔省共记录了568例经组织学确诊的间皮瘤病例。42%的病例提出了索赔；83%的已提交索赔被接受赔偿。
可获赔偿的间皮瘤患者报告不足是一个问题，这也引发了关于艾伯塔省其他石棉相关癌症报告不足的更大问题。应在适当情况下将策略重点放在提高申请率上。
