Asbestos‐Related Respiratory Diseases in Spain: Insights From the Spanish Registry
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Although many Spanish workers have been exposed to asbestos, asbestos-related diseases (ARD) have not been widely reported in this country. The aim of the present study was to analyze the data recorded in the Spanish Registry of asbestos-derived diseases. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted based on data reported between September 19, 2018, and May 15, 2023, covering 11 Spanish autonomous communities. Variables included demographic data, type of exposure, symptoms, pulmonary function tests, radiological studies, and initial and follow-up diagnoses. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred and twenty-one cases were reported, with a mean age of 75.2 years. The majority were men (96.7%) and were smokers or former smokers (78.8%). Occupational exposure accounted for 98.3% of cases, mainly in the naval sector (70%). Pleural plaques were the most prevalent diagnosis (82.1%), followed by asbestosis (14.9%) and lung cancer (11%). During follow-up, 181 new diagnoses were made, including lung cancer (23.76%) and mesothelioma (11.6%). The overall mortality rate was 13.4%, with lung cancer being the leading cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a first overview of ARD in Spain. The most notable findings are the importance of shipyards as a source of exposure, the predominance of pleural plaques and the number of new diagnoses made during the follow-up, and the need for continuous surveillance and early diagnosis to mitigate asbestos-related adverse effects.
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.70093
Authors: Galo Granados, María‐Jesús Cruz, Isabel Urrutia‐Landa, Olaia Bronte‐Moreno, Sandra Dorado‐Arenas, Carmen Diego‐Roza, Irene Nieto‐Codesido, Santiago Rodríguez‐Segade‐Alonso, Raquel Ruiz‐Ferreras, Ana Fernández‐Tena, Rosirys Guzmán‐Taveras, Aida Quero‐Martínez, María Encarnación Barroso‐Medel, Eva María Rosillo‐Hernández, Antonio Santa Cruz‐Siminiani, Marta Hernández‐Olivo, Cristina Martínez‐González, Pilar Cebollero, Belén Marín‐Martínez, Tamara Gutiérrez‐Urra, Pablo Sanchez‐Salcedo, Fernando Romero‐Valero, Sara Calero Pardo, Federico Madrid‐SanMartin, Jaime Signes Costa, Enric Burés‐Sales, Mª Belén Safont‐Muñoz, Juan José Ruíz‐Cubillán, Jaume Ferrer‐Sancho
Institutions: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Hospital de Galdakao, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Ferrol, Instituto Nacional de Silicosis, Santa Lucía University General Hospital, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante Doctor Balmis, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7161509230