Asbestos‐Related Respiratory Diseases in Spain: Insights From the Spanish Registry

ABSTRACT Introduction Although many Spanish workers have been exposed to asbestos, asbestos‐related diseases (ARD) have not been widely reported in this country. The aim of the present study was to analyze the data recorded in the Spanish Registry of asbestos‐derived diseases. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted based on data reported between September 19, 2018, and May 15, 2023, covering 11 Spanish autonomous communities. Variables included demographic data, type of exposure, symptoms, pulmonary function tests, radiological studies, and initial and follow‐up diagnoses. Results One thousand seven hundred and twenty‐one cases were reported, with a mean age of 75.2 years. The majority were men (96.7%) and were smokers or former smokers (78.8%). Occupational exposure accounted for 98.3% of cases, mainly in the naval sector (70%). Pleural plaques were the most prevalent diagnosis (82.1%), followed by asbestosis (14.9%) and lung cancer (11%). During follow‐up, 181 new diagnoses were made, including lung cancer (23.76%) and mesothelioma (11.6%). The overall mortality rate was 13.4%, with lung cancer being the leading cause of death. Conclusions This study provides a first overview of ARD in Spain. The most notable findings are the importance of shipyards as a source of exposure, the predominance of pleural plaques and the number of new diagnoses made during the follow‐up, and the need for continuous surveillance and early diagnosis to mitigate asbestos‐related adverse effects.

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Journal
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Published
2026-05-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.70093
Primary Topic
Occupational and environmental lung diseases
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article
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article

Asbestos‐Related Respiratory Diseases in Spain: Insights From the Spanish Registry

Sara Calero Pardo, Ana Fernández Tena, Olaia Bronte, Jaume Ferrer-Sancho et al.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Occupational and environmental lung diseases
article

Asbestos‐Related Respiratory Diseases in Spain: Insights From the Spanish Registry

Sara Calero Pardo, Ana Fernández Tena, Olaia Bronte, Jaume Ferrer-Sancho, Belén Marín-Martínez, Carmen Diego-Roza, Cristina Martinez‐Gonzalez, Marta Hernández-Olivo, Pablo Sánchez-Salcedo, Aida Quero-Martínez, Maria-Jesus Cruz, Sandra Dorado‐Arenas, Galo Granados, Isabel Urrutia‐Landa, Raquel Ruiz‐Ferreras, María Encarnación Barroso‐Medel, Federico Madrid‐SanMartin, Antonio Santa Cruz‐Siminiani, Fernando Romero‐Valero, Jaime Signes Costa, Eva María Rosillo‐Hernández, Santiago Rodríguez‐Segade‐Alonso, Tamara Gutiérrez‐Urra, Irene Nieto‐Codesido, Mª Belén Safont‐Muñoz, Enric Burés‐Sales, Rosirys Guzmán‐Taveras, Juan José Ruíz‐Cubillán, Pilar Cebollero
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Although many Spanish workers have been exposed to asbestos, asbestos‐related diseases (ARD) have not been widely reported in this country. The aim of the present study was to analyze the data recorded in the Spanish Registry of asbestos‐derived diseases. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted based on data reported between September 19, 2018, and May 15, 2023, covering 11 Spanish autonomous communities. Variables included demographic data, type of exposure, symptoms, pulmonary function tests, radiological studies, and initial and follow‐up diagnoses. Results One thousand seven hundred and twenty‐one cases were reported, with a mean age of 75.2 years. The majority were men (96.7%) and were smokers or former smokers (78.8%). Occupational exposure accounted for 98.3% of cases, mainly in the naval sector (70%). Pleural plaques were the most prevalent diagnosis (82.1%), followed by asbestosis (14.9%) and lung cancer (11%). During follow‐up, 181 new diagnoses were made, including lung cancer (23.76%) and mesothelioma (11.6%). The overall mortality rate was 13.4%, with lung cancer being the leading cause of death. Conclusions This study provides a first overview of ARD in Spain. The most notable findings are the importance of shipyards as a source of exposure, the predominance of pleural plaques and the number of new diagnoses made during the follow‐up, and the need for continuous surveillance and early diagnosis to mitigate asbestos‐related adverse effects.

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Hebron University (PS), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES), Universidad de Cádiz (ES), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (ES), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (ES), Hospital Universitario de Getafe (ES), Hospital de Galdakao (ES), Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (ES), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari (ES), Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (ES), Hospital General Universitario de Alicante Doctor Balmis (ES), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (ES), Santa Lucía University General Hospital (ES), INCLIVA Health Research Institute (ES), Instituto Nacional de Silicosis (ES), Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Palencia (ES), Universidad de Navarra (ES)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Occupational and environmental lung diseases
DOISourceOpenAlex
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