Gender differences in asbestos exposure and disease location in 327 patients with mesothelioma

Introduction: The Region of North Denmark has a high incidence of malignant mesothelioma (MM) of 6.2/100.000 for men and 1/100.000 for women mainly due to large-scale use of chrysotile asbestos. Aims: The aim of the study is to investigate gender differences in asbestos exposure and disease location for MM. Methods: Histopathological samples of 236 men and 91 women with MM were retrieved from the Institute of Pathology, Aalborg University Hospital. Asbestos exposure information was harvested from medical records and Danish registries. Asbestos exposure type was categorized as primary, for asbestos workers; domestic, referring to patients living with an asbestos worker; environmental, defined as living or working within 10.000 meters from asbestos emitting location; unknown, where no source of asbestos exposure could be identified. MM location was classified as pleural (MPM) or peritoneal (MAM) disease. Paired T-tests were used to compare the groups (men versus women). Results: Primary asbestos exposure was observed in 88% of men and 9% of women. Significantly more women than men had secondary (domestic, environmental or both) asbestos exposure (P< 0.00001). MAM presented in 18% of the female and 4% of the male patients (P=0.0009) (Figure 1a&b). Conclusions: The main cause of MM in men seems to be primary, in women secondary asbestos exposure. MAM was significantly more frequent in women. Both findings need further study.