THE INCIDENCE OF PROFESSIONAL DISEASES - A STUDY OF MEDICAL EVALUATIONS FOR LABORAL INCAPACITY IN BARCELONA (SPAIN) (1987-1991)

BACKGROUND: The number of professional diseases (PD) declared in Spain is low. The existence of diseases of laboral etiology treated as a co mmon disease is recognized, thus disregarding important laboral health risks. METHODS: The incidence of PD in the province of Barcelona from 1987-1991 was prospectively studied by the Units of Medical Evaluatio n of Incapacities (UMEI). The sociodemogaphic, medical and administrat ive data of the cases of PD were reported by a protocol of data collec tion. The cases of PD are described and the annual incidence in relati on with the active working population calculated. RESULTS: The UMEI of Barcelona confirmed 554 cases of PD of which 331 were evaluated as pe rmanent invalidity over the five years of the study. The most frequent diagnoses of PD were pneumoconiosis, skin diseases, diseases causing tendinous fatigue and hypoacusia or deafness. Eleven neoplasms were re ported, 9 being caused by asbestos. During the five years the incidenc e of PD increased from 76 cases to 144 per 100,000 active workers. The procedure of information probably underreported the incidence of PD. CONCLUSIONS: A low incidence of professional disease was observed. The clinical laboral history is generally not carried out, The way in whi ch the Units of Medical Evaluation of Incapacities report data concern ing incidence may contribute to greater detection of professional dise ases on registration being integrated into a system of epidemiologic s urveillance in which all the health care, laboral and administrative c enters were effectively coordinated.