TABLE 2.
Respiratory Health Conditions and Symptoms for Participating Miners by Region, October 1, 2014–June 30, 2022
| Central Appalachia (n = 7,787) | Noncentral Appalachia (n = 27,670) | RR (95% CI) | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiographsa | 3,878 | 7,324 | ||
| CWP* | 331 (8.5%) | 152 (2.1%) | 4.1 (3.4–5.0) | <0.0001 |
| PMF* | 52 (1.3%) | 14 (0.2%) | 1.7 (0.9–3.0) | 0.06 |
| Spirometryb | 1,725 | 5,109 | ||
| Abnormal | 275 (15.9%) | 593 (11.6%) | 1.4 (1.2–1.6) | <0.0001 |
| Obstructive | 69 (4.0%) | 173 (3.4%) | 1.2 (0.9–1.6) | 0.2 |
| Restrictive | 185 (10.7%) | 373 (7.3%) | 1.5 (1.2–1.7) | <0.0001 |
| Mixed | 21 (1.2%) | 47 (0.9%) | 1.3 (0.8–2.2) | 0.3 |
| Respiratory Health Assessmentsb | 2,173 | 5,940 | ||
| Reported COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis diagnosis | 152 (7.0%) | 200 (3.4%) | 2.1 (1.7–2.6) | <0.0001 |
| 2 or more symptomsc | 1,226 (56.4%) | 1,626 (27.4%) | 2.1 (1.9–2.2) | <0.0001 |
| BMI—categories | 2,156 | 5,910 | ||
| Overweight | 685 (31.8%) | 1,986 (33.6%) | 0.9 (0.9–2.0) | 0.1 |
| Obese | 1,262 (58.5%) | 3,227 (54.6%) | 1.1 (1.0–1.1) | 0.0006 |
Central Appalachia refers to Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, while Noncentral Appalachia refers to all other states.
BMI, body mass index; CI, confidence interval; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CWP, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis; PMF, progressive massive fibrosis; RR, relative risk.
Radiographs submitted among those miners with 10 or more total years of reported coal mining tenure.
Spirometry tests and respiratory health assessments submitted among those miners with 1 or more years of reported coal mining tenure.
Respiratory disease symptoms include the following: wheezing, cough, shortness of breath, coughing up phlegm, or asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema diagnosis.