Abstract Introduction Pneumoconiosis, an occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of mineral dust, poses a significant public health challenge in India due to the country’s large workforce in mining, construction, and related industries. Poor workplace regulations, coupled with limited awareness and screening measures, have contributed to an escalating burden over the past decades. Method: This study is the first to comprehensively estimate burden of pneumoconiosis by age-, sex-, year-, and location in India and its territories from 1990-2021. Fatal health outcomes were evaluated using the cause of death ensemble model(CODEm), while non-fatal outcomes were assessed through DISMOD-MR 2.1. Result: From 1990-2021, the total percentage change(TPC) in the incidence count of pneumoconiosis in India increased by 93%(79-110%), while deaths rose by 116%(61-214%), and the disability-adjusted life years(DALY) count increased by 92%(45-167%). Among pneumoconiosis subtypes, silicosis accounted for the highest proportion (46.25%), followed by asbestosis (13.12%) and coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP) (6.32%). The highest increase in death count was observed in asbestosis (192%), followed by silicosis(113%) and CWP(96%). Regarding TPC in DALYs, the greatest rise was noted in asbestosis(163%), silicosis(91%), and CWP(72%). State-wise, the highest increase in incidence was recorded in Delhi(169%), Mizoram(167%), Manipur(136%), Meghalaya(136%), and Rajasthan(135%). The highest TPC in deaths was observed in Gujarat(168%), Uttarakhand(168%), Mizoram(163%), and Madhya Pradesh(152%). In terms of DALYs, the Union Territories showed the highest increase (197%), followed by Uttarakhand (142%), Mizoram (132%), and Gujarat(131%). Age-wise, the highest increase in incidence was recorded in the 20-54 years age group (103%), followed by those aged 55 years and above (90%), and individuals under 20 years (37%). The TPC in deaths was highest in individuals aged 55 years and above (128%), followed by the 20-54 years group (33%), while deaths in individuals under 20 years decreased by 1%. Gender-wise, females experienced a greater increase in disease burden over the past three decades. The TPC in incidence count was higher in females (113%) than in males (89%), while deaths showed a significantly greater rise in females (252%) compared to males (103%). Similarly, the TPC in DALYs was higher in females (189%) than in males (83%). Conclusion Pneumoconiosis has seen a pronounced rise in India from 1990 to 2021, with notable increases in incidence, deaths, and DALYs across key subtypes, particularly asbestosis. Older adults and females bear a higher burden, while certain states and regions—such as Delhi, Mizoram, and Gujarat—show disproportionately high rates, underscoring the urgent need for targeted, region-specific interventions. This abstract is funded by: None
Trivedi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.