Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Epidemiologic approaches to occupational exposure.

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) risk-related factors were epidemiologically investigated on the basis of 1,311 Japanese IPF autopsy cases selected from the annual complications of autopsy data records in Japan during a 12-yr period. Age and sex distribution of the subjects revealed a high peak in their seventh decade with males predominating. The IPF rate was more than two times higher (p < 0.01) among subjects engaged in occupations that exposed them to dust or organic solvents compared with those in other jobs. To ascertain job characteristics, an autopsy-case control study was conducted using other annual volumes of the autopsy data records and a similar tendency was observed. Then, a live-case control study was undertaken of 86 subjects with IPF. A significantly higher odds ratio was noted among metal production workers and miners compared with healthy and hospital control subjects (1.37 and 1.34, respectively, p < 0.01), and also a significantly lower odds ratio among subjects who frequently eat fish. Taken together with results of recent in vitro studies, the intrapulmonary deposition of hazardous dusts, especially metallic dusts, appears to play at least a partial role in initiating IPF.

MUC5B Promoter Polymorphism and Interstitial Lung Abnormalities

“…Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is reported to be present in approximately 0.002 to 0.04% of the general population, 10,23-27 a prevalence that increases with age (e.g., ages 45 to 55 years, 0.02 to 0.04%; ≥75 years of age, 0.07 to 0.30%). 24 Although the prevalence of interstitial lung abnormalities also increases with age, 1 the estimates of the prevalences of interstitial lung abnormalities and definite fibrosis among participants in the Framingham Heart Study who were older than 50 years of age were 9% and 2%, respectively -rates that are both substantially greater than the rate reported for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.…”

Asbestos, asbestosis, pleural plaques and lung cancer

“…It should be remembered, however, that "idiopathic" fibrosis is more than twice as common in persons with some type of occupational exposure to solvents or particles (69). At least some of the substances which presumably caused the fibrosis might in themselves be carcinogenic also.…”

Advances in the study of biomarkers of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Japan

“…Although its exact epidemiology is still unknown, IPF is reported to have no distinct geographical distribution, a greater prevalence in males, and mostly affect individuals who smoke (2). IPF has the characteristic appearance of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), which is usually limited to the lungs.…”