Smoking, occupational dust exposure a risk factor for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Smoking and occupational dust exposure appear to contribute to an increased risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a study.

In this hospital-based, case-control study, researchers used data from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Interstitial Lung Disease registry and identified 206 patients with IPF and 167 controls without lung disease.

All participants completed questionnaires that detailed occupation, lifestyle, transportation, and types of environmental and occupational dust exposure. IPF diagnosis was confirmed based on the recent guidelines, and the possibility of hypersensitivity pneumonitis was excluded. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors for IPF.

In a multivariable analysis adjusted for age and sex, IPF risk was more than twofold higher among ever-smokers (odds ratio [OR], 2.35, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.51–3.68) and individuals who smoked more than 30 pack-years (OR, 2.79, 95 percent CI, 1.70–4.68).

Moreover, any occupational dust exposure was associated with increased risk of IPF (adjusted OR, 2.08, 95 percent CI, 1.19–3.72). The risk increase was especially pronounced among people who were exposed to chemicals (adjusted OR, 3.52, 99 percent CI, 1.56–9.05).

Both smoking and occupational dust exposure showed dose and duration-dependent associations with the risk of IPF.