Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and survival status of pneumoconiosis cases reported in Jiulongpo District, Chongqing, and to provide scientific evidence for prevention and control strategies.

Methods A retrospective study was conducted on all cases of occupational pneumoconiosis reported in Jiulongpo District up to the end of 2022. The telephone follow-up was conducted on 523 patients, including 511 cases who were still alive at the time of a 2019 survey and 12 new cases reported after 2019. The follow-up period lasted until the end of 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze gender, age, dust exposure duration, type of pneumoconiosis, and age at first diagnosis. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results From 1954 to 2022, a total of 1 142 cases of occupational pneumoconiosis were diagnosed in Jiulongpo District, Chongqing, with silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis accounting for 98.4% of the cases. Among them, 673 cases (58.93%) were diagnosed as stage Ⅰ, 295 cases (25.83%) as stage Ⅱ, and 174 cases (15.24%) as stage Ⅲ pneumoconiosis. A total of 481 cases with complete information were included in the survival analysis, comprising 387 surviving patients, 61 patients who died from pneumoconiosis or its complications between 2020 and 2023, and 33 patients who were lost to follow-up or died from other causes. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that a median survival time after diagnosis for the 481 pneumoconiosis patients was 39.75 years. The Cox regression model revealed that patients first diagnosed at age ≥ 55 had a 7.524 times higher risk of reduced survival compared to those diagnosed at age ＜ 45 (P < 0.01). Stage Ⅲ pneumoconiosis patients had a 2.154 times higher risk of reduced survival compared to stage Ⅰ patients (P < 0.05). Work-related injury insurance coverage, type of pneumoconiosis, and dust exposure duration had no significant effect on survival time (P > 0.05).

Conclusions Survival time among pneumoconiosis patients was associated with age at first diagnosis and disease stage. Early diagnosis and prevention of disease progression were critical for improving patient survival time. Priority follow-up and monitoring should target patients diagnosed at older ages and those with stage Ⅲ pneumoconiosis to improve quality of life and extend longevity.