Surveillance of Asbestos-related Disease in British Columbia Asbestos Workshop: May 2010 Mieke Koehoorn, Chris McLeod, Lillian Tamburic, Paul Demers University of British Columbia
Mesothelioma Cases in BC, 1970-2006
Compensated Cases….. • More likely to be male • More likely to have cancer of the pleura • More likely to be of working age • More likely to come from mining or other industrial regions of the province
Increasing awareness of mesothelioma as a compensable disease through surveillance and notification Globe & Mail, March 13th, 2004
Comparison of compensation rate for diagnosed mesothelioma cases, by letter status, 2002-2006 5
Comparison of compensation rate for diagnosed mesothelioma cases, by letter status, 2002-2006 2007-2008: 49% and 52% compensated cases overall 6
Comparison by Gender No Letter Period Letter Period-Not Sent Letter Period - Sent 7
8 Compensation Rate by Cancer Site
Survival after diagnosis, by letter status,
Improvements in Letter Intervention • Suspected versus histological-confirmed cases, so sent earlier • Letter mailed on a regular basis, now includes WorkSafeBC paperwork • Letter to patients/families…..challenging to do given privacy and clinician concerns
Surveillance Challenges….. • Identification of other asbestos related disease • Registry of exposed workers • Improving awareness and education
Asbestos-Related Workers’ Compensation Claims, British Columbia
New Asbestos Cases: 1992-2004, n = 1,170
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