Occupational and Regional Patterns of Silicosis in Türkiye: A Multicenter Study
OBJECTIVE: National data on sector-specific and regional patterns of silicosis beyond compensation records are limited. We aimed to characterize these in Türkiye and identify factors associated with severity. METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional multicenter study, 1,393 patients diagnosed 2020-2025 across 12 centers were analyzed. Demographics, occupational history, referral pathways, and radiological findings were evaluated. Distribution was assessed by workplace and birthplace. Predictors of advanced disease were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Patients were predominantly male (99.2%), median age 47. Ceramics (36.8%) was most common, followed by foundry, denim-sandblasting, mining, dental technology. Large opacities were present in 23.0%. High-intensity exposures showed more severe disease despite shorter duration. Age and sector predicted severity. CONCLUSIONS: The high burden of advanced disease and regional clustering highlight gaps in preventive surveillance, underscoring the urgent need for strengthened exposure control.
Authors
- Alperen Aksakal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6883-3314)
- Belgin Oral (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2246-4733)
- Özlem Kar Kurt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4641-2866)
- Defne Kalaycı (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0206-510X)
- Esra Aydın Özgür (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5548-1206)
- Tuğba KÖRLÜ AKKALE (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1558-1405)
- Merve Atik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1412-0279)
- Bilge Akgündüz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9398-5173)
- Metin Akgün (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3404-4274)
- Abdülsamet Sandal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9718-7769)
- İsmail Bulgur (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6654-9229)
- Zehra Nur Töreyin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9535-5207)
- İbrahim Akkurt
- Fatma Erboy Keskintıg
- Eliz Oyman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8861-9953)
- E I Oğuz
Institutions
- Çankaya University (TR)
- Izmir University (TR)
- Bursa Technical University (TR)
- Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (TR)
- Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (TR)
- Ege University (TR)
- Eskişehir City Hospital (TR)
- Chest Diseases Hospital (KW)
- Memorial Ankara Hospital (TR)
- Antalya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR)
- Kayseri Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR)
- Yedikule Teaching Hospital (TR)
- Antalya IVF (TR)
- S.B.Ü. Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR)
- Düzce Üniversitesi (TR)
- Atatürk University (TR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Published
- 2026-07-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000003836
- Primary Topic
- Occupational and environmental lung diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00