Survival of Korean Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Compensated for the Asbestos Injury Relief

Disease Latency according to Asbestos Exposure Characteristics among Malignant Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer Cases in South Korea

Korea was one of the major consumers of asbestos in the late 1900s, and asbestos-related disease patients have been reported continuously to date, owing to long disease latency. Several studies have been conducted to predict the future incidence of malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer in Korea, but little is understood about the latency time. Therefore, the aim of this study is to estimate the latency period of malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer in Korea and its determinants. We obtained information from the Environmental Health Centers for Asbestos in Korea on the history of asbestos exposure and demographic characteristics of 1933 patients with malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. In our study, the latency periods for malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer were 33.7 and 40.1 years, respectively. Regardless of the disease type, those with a history of exposure related to the production of asbestos-containing products or asbestos factories had the shortest latency period. In addition, we observed that those who worked in or lived near asbestos mines tended to have a relatively long disease latency. Smoking was associated with shorter latency, but no linear relationship between the lifetime smoking amount (expressed in pack years) and latent time was observed. In addition, the age of initial exposure showed a negative linear association with the latency period for mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Depression and Complicated Grief, and Associated Factors, of Bereaved Family Members of Patients Who Died of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in Japan

OBJECTIVES

we investigated the prevalence and associated factors of depression and complicated grief (CG) among bereaved family members of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients in Japan.

METHODS

Bereaved family members of MPM patients (n = 72) were surveyed. The Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Japanese version of the Brief Grief Questionnaire (BGQ) were used to assess depression and complicated grief (CG), respectively. Socio-economic factors, anger toward asbestos, care satisfaction, achievement of good death, and quality of end-of-life care were assessed in relation to depression and CG.

RESULTS

In the family members of MPM patients, the frequencies of depression and CG were 19.4% and 15.3%, respectively. The bereaved family members who were not compensated by the asbestos-related health-damage relief system (p = 0.018) and who felt the financial impacts of the patient's MPM on the family (p = 0.006) had a higher likelihood of depression. The bereaved family members who were not satisfied with the care given when the patient became critical (p = 0.034), who were not compensated by the asbestos-related health-damage relief system (p = 0.020), who felt the financial impact of the patient's MPM on the family (p = 0.016), and whose deceased relative underwent surgery (p = 0.030) had a higher likelihood of CG.

CONCLUSIONS

For bereaved family members of MPM patients, routine screening for depression and CG and the provision of grief care are suggested. In addition, for family members of MPM patients, financial support, including the promotion of the asbestos-related health-damage relief system, and improved care for patients who undergo surgery and when patients become critical, are recommended.