‘Evaluation of occupational and nonoccupational interstitial lung disease in railway workers’

Occupational lung diseases include a wide variety of respiratory diseases with clinical manifestations and diagnostic test results that have features similar to nonoccupational diseases. To determine the prevalence of occupational Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) among confirmed ILD patients admitted to the chest department of Egyptian Railway Medical Centre and the assessment of the outcome. A total of 155 patients with confirmed ILD, were subdivided into two groups: group (A) 79 patients with occupational exposure and group (B) 76 patients with nonoccupational exposure. Both groups were subjected to a detailed history, radiological assessment, arterial blood gases, and Spirometry. Data of days of hospital stay were also recorded. The prevalence of confirmed cases of ILD among occupational exposure was 1.49% versus 1.1% in the nonoccupational. Range of age in occupational group was between (31and 68 years). Chest X ray (CXR) findings were positive in 58.2% and 30.2% of occupational and nonoccupational group, respectively. Among group (A), 47.1% of the patients stayed between 11 and 15 days), 15.76% admitted to ICU, and 5.2% were mechanically ventilated. While 48% of hospitalized nonoccupational patients stayed between 6 and 10 days, 8% were admitted to ICU and 4% were mechanically ventilated. The prevalence of interstitial lung diseases with occupational exposure was 1.49%, higher than non-occupational interstitial lung diseases. They were younger in age, had history of domiciliary oxygen therapy, frequent exacerbations, and previous hospital admissions. They had prolonged length of hospital stay, particularly those not using protective measures.