National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Spokane, Washington, USA.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Am J Ind Med. 2021 Feb;64(2):118-126. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23195. Epub 2020 Oct 26.
Within the mining industrial sector, workers in the mining and oil and gas extraction (OGE) industries have demonstrated disparities in chronic health status compared with the general working population. However, we know much less about miner and OGE worker health once retired. This study separately compares chronic illnesses in retired miners and OGE workers with all other retirees.
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) public data were analyzed for the years 2007-2017 to estimate weighted unadjusted and adjusted prevalence of selected health conditions (cancer, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory conditions, health status, and hearing loss) in retirees. Three retired worker groups (miners, OGE, and other retirees) were defined using the respondents' longest-held industry and occupation.
Higher prevalence of a number of adverse health conditions was noted in miners and OGE workers when compared with all other retirees. A significantly higher adjusted prevalence of hypertension, hearing loss, functionally limiting lung problems, and fair or poor health was seen in miners over other retirees. Retired OGE workers demonstrated a significantly higher adjusted prevalence of both hearing loss and poor health status.
Miners and OGE workers have higher morbidity during their working years, and this study demonstrates that poorer health appears to continue into retirement. These results suggest the need to expand occupational health and safety programs in the mining sector to improve the health of workers into retirement. Future studies that include more robust information on workplace exposures are needed to evaluate the long-term health of retired workers.
在采矿业部门内，与一般劳动人口相比，矿工和石油及天然气开采业（OGE）工人的慢性健康状况存在差异。然而，我们对退休矿工和 OGE 工人的健康状况知之甚少。本研究分别比较了退休矿工和 OGE 工人与所有其他退休人员的慢性疾病。
对 2007 年至 2017 年的全国健康访谈调查（NHIS）公共数据进行了分析，以估算选定健康状况（癌症、心血管疾病、高胆固醇、糖尿病、高血压、呼吸状况、健康状况和听力损失）在退休人员中的加权未经调整和调整后的患病率。使用受访者的最长持有的行业和职业来定义三个退休工人群体（矿工、OGE 和其他退休人员）。
与所有其他退休人员相比，矿工和 OGE 工人的许多不良健康状况的患病率更高。与其他退休人员相比，矿工的高血压、听力损失、功能受限的肺部问题和一般或较差的健康状况的调整后患病率明显更高。退休的 OGE 工人表现出听力损失和较差健康状况的调整后患病率明显更高。
矿工和 OGE 工人在工作期间的发病率更高，本研究表明，较差的健康状况似乎会持续到退休后。这些结果表明，需要扩大采矿业的职业健康和安全计划，以改善工人的退休健康状况。需要进行未来的研究，包括更详细的工作场所暴露信息，以评估退休工人的长期健康状况。
