[Cor pulmonale in patients with pneumoconiosis]

Of 577 patients with pneumoconiosis who died in 1964-1988 cor pulmonale was revealed on necropsy in 334, i.e. in 57.8%. In 120 it was the cause of death, i.e. in 20.7% (and it remains the most frequent cause of death). The mean age of the patients who died from cor pulmonale does not differ significantly from the rest of the group. The prevalence of cor pulmonale in different forms of pneumoconiosis did not differ significantly. Emphysema of the lungs was revealed in 71.2% of the patients who died from cor pulmonale. Embolization of the lungs was not more frequent in those who died with cor pulmonale; ischaemic heart disease was significantly less frequent in patients with cor pulmonale than in the rest of the group. Death from cor pulmonale is still the most frequent cause of death among occupational diseases.