Social and Economic Effects of Rheumatic Diseases in a Mining Population

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Abstract
The prevalence of rheumatic symptoms in workers in a Scottish coal mine was assessed. It was found that 47% of those interviewed had had symptoms during the previous year. Osteo-arthrosis becomes more prevalent with advancing years. Even allowing for this, however, it has been shown to be commoner in those who have worked at the coal face. Sickness absence due to rheumatic diseases was 51 weeks per 100 workers per year. Miners with rheumatic complaints suffered the same loss of work from other forms of illness as did those without rheumatic symptoms. Disease of the intervertebral disks caused 63% of the absence from rheumatic causes. The possible role of disk disease in leading to change of employment has been demonstrated.