Radiological changes, pulmonary function, and systemic inflammation in pneumoconiosis: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

Despite advances in occupational health, pneumoconiosis remains an important public health problem. This study aimed to describe changes in pulmonary function tests and systemic inflammatory markers in patients with pneumoconiosis and to evaluate their relationship with radiological stage changes during follow-up.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 109 patients with pneumoconiosis followed between 2007 and 2024. Spirometry, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), ILO pneumoconiosis categories, and hemogram parameters obtained at baseline and follow-up were analyzed. Associations between exposure duration, inflammatory markers, pulmonary function changes, and radiological stage changes were assessed using non-parametric methods and multivariable linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

Radiological progression was observed in 20.2% of patients. Progression occurred in 16.9% of patients with category 1 disease, 34.6% of those with category 2 disease, and 75% of those with category 3 disease. A significant annual decline was observed in FEV₁ (p = 0.003) and FEV₁/FVC (p = 0.005). The annual decline in DLCO was more pronounced among patients with radiological progression (p < 0.05). Inflammatory markers showed an overall increase during follow-up, exposure duration was positively correlated with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values (r = 0.223; p = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary function decline and changes in inflammatory markers were observed during follow-up in patients with pneumoconiosis, with greater DLCO reduction among those showing radiological progression. These findings highlight the value of evaluating radiological findings together with functional and laboratory parameters to better characterize disease burden. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of these associations.