A comparative study of the disease burden attributable to asbestos in Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia between 1990 and 2019

Jieyuan Chen; Chunfei Wang; Jinyu Zhang; Ting Zhang; Hongsen Liang; Songsong Mao; Haifeng Li; Zhaojun Wang

doi:10.1186/s12889-022-14437-6

A comparative study of the disease burden attributable to asbestos in Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia between 1990 and 2019

BMC Public Health. 2022 Nov 3;22(1):2012. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14437-6.

Authors

Jieyuan Chen^#¹, Chunfei Wang^#², Jinyu Zhang³, Ting Zhang³, Hongsen Liang³, Songsong Mao¹, Haifeng Li¹, Zhaojun Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
² Endoscopy Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China.
³ Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China.
⁴ Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China. wangzhj55@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia are the main asbestos-producing countries, and all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans. The objective of this study was to estimate the disease burden attributable to asbestos between 1990 and 2019 in major producing countries, including Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

Methods: Age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates (ASDR) of disease burden attributable to asbestos by country, age, and sex were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease 2019. Percentage change and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were used to assess the trends of ASDR and ASMR of disease burden attributable to asbestos between 1990 and 2019.

Results: Asbestos-related diseases were highly heterogeneous across Global, Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. There was a downward trend in ASMR and ASDR of diseases burden related to asbestos globally. The age-specific mortality rate of disease attributable to asbestos increased in men and women, although it decreased in women aged 85-89, the highest age-specific mortality rate were observed in age 95 + group in men [162.14 (95% UI: 103.76-215.45)] and women [30.58 (95% UI: 14.83-44.33)] per 100 000 population, respectively. Tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer was the leading cause of death and DALYS attributable to asbestos between 1990 and 2019 globally and in Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. China had the highest percentage change (73.31%) and EAPC [3.41 (95% CI: 2.75-4.08)] in ASMR related to exposure to asbestos in men, with the highest percentage change (73.31%) and EAPC [3.41 (95% CI: 2.75-4.08)] in ASDR in men.

Conclusions: The ASMR and ASDR of disease burden attributable to asbestos decreased between 1990 and 2019 globally. TBL cancer was the leading cause of death and DALYs attributable to asbestos between 1990 and 2019. There has been an increasing trend in mortality and DALYs globally, especially in older men. The burden of disease attributable to asbestos is increasing in China, especially in men.

Keywords: Asbestos; DALYs; Disease burden; Estimated annual percentage change; Global Burden of Disease.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Asbestos* / toxicity
Brazil
China / epidemiology
Cost of Illness
Female
Global Burden of Disease
Global Health
Humans
Kazakhstan / epidemiology
Male
Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Quality-Adjusted Life Years

Substances

Asbestos