Risk factors for silicotuberculosis among miners: a scoping review

Miners exposed to silica dust are susceptible to silicotuberculosis (STB) outcome - the development of tuberculosis (TB) in miners with silicosis. STB is an important occupational and public health issue in the twenty-first century. This scoping review aimed to map the risk factors associated with STB.

A literature search was carried out to identify the available international literature on STB risk factors from four databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and COCHRANE LIBRARY. Various grey literature sources such as Google Scholar, Science.gov, and WHO Global Index Medicus were also searched. The main study outcome is STB; the selection criteria also included studies assessing TB and silicosis as comorbidities leading to STB.

The final review included 22 studies. Findings identified various STB risk factors including demographic factors such as age and sex, lifestyle factors including smoking and alcohol intake, clinical factors such as history of TB, grades of silicosis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in addition to occupational factors encompassing silica exposure, duration of employment, and type of work setting.

The findings of this scoping review highlight the research gaps in the reviewed literature, including the dearth of longitudinal studies focusing on the directionality of the two comorbidities (TB and silicosis) that lead to STB, lack of gender considerations in research on this topic, and an absence of articles on vulnerable populations including children. The findings of this review may help guide future research and inform occupational health and safety policies addressing STB outcomes among miners.