Violation of medical statistics as one of the reasons for the low incidence of occupational diseases

Abstract

Many authors point to the low incidence of occupational diseases in our country. The reasons are poor-quality preventive examinations, the lack of interest of employers in identifying these diseases, and others. However, there are no works in the literature devoted to errors in the statistical coding of diagnoses of occupational pathology and their accounting. The study aims to improve the accounting of occupational diseases in Russia. We conducted the study using the information base of the Industry Register of Persons with Occupational Diseases, developed by Burnazyan State Medical Center of the FMBA, Russia, which operating in the industry since 2011. As of 31.12.2020, the register contains information on 2,056 patients with occupational diseases, from among the employees of enterprises and organizations served by healthcare institutions of the FMBA, Russia. Errors of incorrect coding of diagnoses for occupational diseases with violation of the classification principles in the used directive materials played a negative role. The development of plans for medical and social rehabilitation measures to reduce the incidence of occupational diseases among the people working in harmful conditions. It requires correct knowledge of morbidity indicators of this nosology. In order to improve the accounting of occupational diseases in Russia, it is necessary to switch to the system of coding diagnoses of this nosology, adopted in medical statistics, and make appropriate changes to the directive documents.