Durante 7 años han sido estudiados 30.669 mineros en el Instituto Nacional de Silicosis, que representan un 67,67% de la población minera asturiana. 18.371 (59,9%) no padecían neumoconiosis, 8.035 (26,2%) tenían neumoconiosis simple y 4.263 (13,9%) presentaban masas conglomeradas. La incidencia de tuberculosis pulmonar (probada bacteriológicamente), artritis reumatoide (definitiva o clásica) y esclerodermia eran, respectivamente, de 1.611, 111 y 29,3 por 100.000 mineros, y eran factores patogénicos determinantes en la aparición de neumoconiosis complicadas (P < 0,001). A pesar de esto, en el 90,3% de las neumoconiosis complicadas se desconocen los factores que intervengan en sus génesis. La evolución clínico-radiológica de la neumoconiosis complicada viene dada por la presencia de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y la extensión de las lesiones. Son eventos destacables en las masas conglomeradas su cavitación y la alta frecuencia de neumotorax espontáneo (3.147 por 100.000). Se resalta el poco valor de la profilaxis médica para reducir la cifra de fibrosis masiva progresiva.

Over a period of 7 years, 30,669 miners were studied in the National Institute of Silicosis, which represents 67.67% of the Asturian mining population. 18,371 (59.9%) did not suffer from pneumoconiosis; 8,035 (26.2%) had simple pneumoconiosis and 4.263 (13.9%) presented conglomerated masses. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (proved bacteriologically), rheumatoid arthritis (definitive or classical) and scleroderma were respectively of 1611, 111 and 29.3 per 100,000 miners; and were determining pathogenic factors in the appearance of complicated pneumoconiosis (P < 0.001). In spite of this, in 90.3% of the complicated penumoconiosis the factors that intervened in the genesis remained unknown. The clinical and radiological evolution of complicated pneumoconiosis is decided by the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the extension of the lesions. In the conglomerated masses, the following events are notable: its cavitation and the high frequency of spontaneous penumothorax (3147 per 100,000). Finally, the authors emphasize the scarce value of medical prophylaxis for reducing the figures of progressive massive fibrosis.