Risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis in miners with occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction. Long-term exposure to industrial aerosols containing silicon dioxide can lead to the development of not only an occupational disease – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but also contribute to the formation and progression of atherosclerosis. To prevent cardiovascular pathology, it is necessary to identify and eliminate its risk factors.The study aims to identify the most significant risk factors for atherosclerosis in miners with occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Materials and methods. Scientists conducted an examination of 86 coal mine workers with previously established occupational pathology — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — as well as 150 miners from the control group without lung pathology. All miners underwent a comprehensive examination to diagnose atherosclerosis and identify risk factors for its development.Results. In miners with occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atherosclerosis was 1.8 times more common (75.58%) than in the comparison group (41.33%). It was noted that in miners with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, multifocal atherosclerosis with combined involvement of two vascular territories was most frequently observed (41.86%) — significantly more than in the comparison group, where it was found in 16 people (10.67%). In miners with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with atherosclerosis, the following risk factors were more commonly observed: age 45 or older, arterial hypertension, elevated levels of C reactive protein and soluble fibrin monomer complexes, and blood group MN. Occupational risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis in miners with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been identified: work experience in dusty conditions of 20 years or more, and the presence of respiratory failure.Conclusion. In miners with occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atherosclerosis was more common than in the comparison group. When chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is combined with atherosclerosis, the following risk markers are often present: age 45 or older, arterial hypertension, elevated levels of C reactive protein and soluble fibrin monomer complexes, MN blood group, 20 or more years of work experience in dusty conditions, and the presence of respiratory failure — complications of occupational pathology.Ethics. All miners gave informed consent to the examination (Protocol No. 4, § 2 dated November 18, 2021 of the meeting of the bioethics committee of the Research Institute of Coal and Gas Industry).Contributions:Panev N.I. — research concept and design, data collection, text writing;Korotenko O.Yu. — data collection, editing;Filimonov S.N. — editing;Rumpel O.A. — data collection.Funding. The study had no funding.Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Received: 17.06.2026 / Accepted: 24.09.2026 / Published: 03.11.2026