Mesothelioma and Social Security Benefits in Brazil: 2019 to 2021

Asbestos is carcinogenic to humans, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization, and can cause several diseases, including mesothelioma, a malignant tumor of the pleura and peritoneum, mainly.

Analysis of disability pension benefits with mesothelioma diagnosis in Brazil from 2019 to 2021.

Descriptive study using records of benefits granted by the Social Security National Institute (Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social) in Brazil to insured workers under the Regime Geral da Previdência Social with a diagnosis of mesothelioma or pleural cancer. Later, cases were identified as mesothelioma after reviewing medical-pericial reports. Two Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social data sources were used: Unified Benefits Information System, providing sociodemographic data of the insured and benefit information, and Disability Benefits Administration System (SABI), where the medical-pericial report is prepared, providing information on the insured's occupation and the type of mesothelioma.

During the study period, 109 benefits were granted by Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social with a mesothelioma diagnosis, and six with a pleural cancer diagnosis, which upon review of the medical-pericial report were identified as mesothelioma. Of the total 115 benefits granted, only one was characterized as occupational.

Only one benefit was characterized as occupational disease, contrary to the literature evidence of mesothelioma being associated with occupational or environmental asbestos exposure in 80% of cases.