Analysis of the Correlation between Changes in Pulmonary Function and the Risk of Fatty Liver and Anemia in Patients with Pneumoconiosis

Background Pneumoconiosis constitutes 75%~85% of occupational disease cases in China. Understanding pulmonary function decline and its disease-associated risks is vital for managing pneumoconiosis. Methods A total of 466 pneumoconiosis patients hospitalized at the Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases from January to December 2018 were selected. General demographic data were collected, and pulmonary function tests and various physiological and biochemical indicators were recorded. Follow-up was conducted in 2023 to analyse the 5-year changes in pulmonary function and their impact on the risk of various diseases. Results A total of 460 male subjects were included, with a mean age of 54 years and an average work duration of 17 years. At follow-up, the proportion of patients with pulmonary ventilation dysfunction was 85.7%, higher than at baseline (χ ²  = 9.438), and all pulmonary function indicators significantly decreased compared with those at baseline, with the highest decline rate in DLCOSB (19.33%). After adjusting for baseline age, BMI, smoking and drinking status, disease stage, and dust exposure duration, modeling revealed that severe obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction increased the risk of fatty liver (OR = 27.981, 95% CI 7.243 ~ 108.103), and a decrease in diffusion function increased the risk of anemia, with OR (95% CI) values for DLCOSB (Best) and DLCOSB (%Best) increasing the risk of anemia being 1.310 (1.073 ~ 1.598) and 1.021 (1.005 ~ 1.037), respectively. Conclusion The decline in pulmonary function in pneumoconiosis patients increases the risk of fatty liver and anemia, highlighting the importance of strengthening the prevention and control of pulmonary function decline, which is important for the prevention of chronic comorbidities in pneumoconiosis.