Periodic medical examinations as a measure to prevent the risk of occupational diseases

Introduction. The most important preventive measure for occupational diseases (OD) is the diagnosis of their early manifestations during periodic medical examinations (PME).

The purpose of the study. To investigate the effectiveness and quality of PME to assess their role in the prevention system of OD among workers in a number of subjects of the Volga Federal District between 2021 and 2023.

Materials and methods. We have analyzed the reporting forms of the centers of occupational pathology (COP) in 4 regions of the Volga Federal District: the Republics of Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Samara and Orenburg regions between 2021 and 2023. To assess the effectiveness and quality of PME, the following indicators are calculated: the coverage of employees by periodic medical examinations, the detection of diseases, and primary disability. The detection of chronic non-infectious diseases (CNID) using the χ² criterion and its reliability (p) with multiple comparisons of groups and reliability p < 0.05 has been analyzed. Statistical processing was carried out using Microsoft Excel software.

Results. Over the studied period, the PFO revealed an increase in the number of employees covered by PMO. There was a low proportion of employees subject to PME in the COP (2.1–4.2% in Bashkortostan during 2021–2023; 1.7% in the Samara Region in 2023). Low rates of OD detection were identified in Bashkortostan — 17.6%, high ones in Tatarstan — 82.0% and Orenburg Region — 91.2%. An increase in primary disability of workers with OD was recorded — 2.8 — 3.8 — 12.2%. In 2023, the detection of NICD decreased, especially neoplasms (χ² = 153.6; p = 0.001), diseases of the genitourinary system (χ² = 710.2; p = 0.001). The COP reports do not contain information on the number of workers with early signs of OD based on the PME results.

Research limitations. The study is limited to data on examinations of workers in the Volga Federal District.

Conclusions. Obtaining reliable and objective information for the purpose of analyzing the effectiveness and quality of PME based on the reports of the COP is difficult. The qualitative indicators of PME based on the example of several subjects of the Volga Federal District indicate to their low effectiveness in the system of prevention of OD.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Contribution of the authors:
Valeeva E.T., Shaikhlislamova E.R. — research concept and design, writing the text, compilation of the list of literature, statistical data processing;
Shastin A.S., Akhmetshina V.T., Babanov S.A., Galimova R.R., Basyrova A.R. — collection and processing of material;
Distanova A.A. — writing the text, statistical data processing, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: July 4, 2024 / Revised: February 18, 2025 / Accepted: June 24, 2025 / Published: October 31, 2025

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