Abstract
Background
Lung cancer may be related to exposures at work, but this relation is often not established or reported. In this study we wanted to look at work relation, reporting and compensation for newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer.
Method
The aim of the study was to interview newly diagnosed lung cancer patients about occupation and exposures at work. The relation between lung cancer and occupation was established for each patient as probably, possibly or not probably occupational. The patients were counselled about possibilities for compensation. The number of reported cases in the project period from all health regions in Norway to The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority was assessed, and information about granted compensation among the study participants was collected from The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV).
Results
We interviewed 105 lung cancer patients, 73 men and 32 women. Among men 16% were diagnosed as probably and 22% as possibly occupational. No cases among women were judged as occupational. From the different health regions in Norway 1,7-5,1% of lung cancers were reported as occupational. Among the patients who applied for compensation 9 out of 11 with probable and 5 out of 12 with possible ocupational disease were granted compensation from NAV.
Discussion
Attributable fraction for male lung cancer is about 20%. The proportion of patients with work related disease in our study is of the same magnitude. The underreporting of occupational lung cancer is considerable. In the diagnostic approach to lung cancer an assessment of the patient's occupational exposures is often forgotten. More patients could have had their disease compensated if this interview was a compulsary part of the diagnostic procedure.
- © 2014 ERS
