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Occupational and environmental risk factors for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Australia: case-control study

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 09:50 authored by Abramson, MJ, Murambadoro, T, Alif, SM, Benke, GP, Dharmage, SC, Glaspole, I, Hopkins, P, Hoy, RF, Klebe, S, Moodley, Y, Rawson, S, Reynolds, PN, Wolfe, R, Corte, TJ, Eugene WaltersEugene Walters
Introduction Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lung disease of unknown cause characterised by progressive scarring, with limited effective treatment and a median survival of only 2-3 years. Our aim was to identify potential occupational and environmental exposures associated with IPF in Australia. Methods Cases were recruited by the Australian IPF registry. Population-based controls were recruited by random digit dialling, frequency matched on age, sex and state. Participants completed a questionnaire on demographics, smoking, family history, environmental and occupational exposures. Occupational exposure assessment was undertaken with the Finnish Job Exposure Matrix and Australian asbestos JEM. Multivariable logistic regression was used to describe associations with IPF as ORs and 95% CIs, adjusted for age, sex, state and smoking. Results We recruited 503 cases (mean±SD age 71±9 years, 69% male) and 902 controls (71±8 years, 69% male). Ever smoking tobacco was associated with increased risk of IPF: OR 2.20 (95% CI 1.74 to 2.79), but ever using marijuana with reduced risk after adjusting for tobacco: 0.51 (0.33 to 0.78). A family history of pulmonary fibrosis was associated with 12.6-fold (6.52 to 24.2) increased risk of IPF. Occupational exposures to secondhand smoke (OR 2.1; 1.2 to 3.7), respirable dust (OR 1.38; 1.04 to 1.82) and asbestos (OR 1.57; 1.15 to 2.15) were independently associated with increased risk of IPF. However occupational exposures to other specific organic, mineral or metal dusts were not associated with IPF. Conclusion The burden of IPF could be reduced by intensified tobacco control, occupational dust control measures and elimination of asbestos at work.

History

Publication title

Thorax

Volume

75

Issue

10

Pagination

864-869

ISSN

0040-6376

Department/School

Tasmanian School of Medicine

Publisher

B M J Publishing Group

Place of publication

British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London, England, Wc1H 9Jr

Rights statement

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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    University Of Tasmania

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