Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive lung disease characterized by fibrosis and worsening lung function, has been associated with workplace exposures. To describe IPF mortality among ever-employed persons aged ≥15 years, by industry and occupation, the 2021 National Vital Statistics System multiple cause-of-death data from 49 states and New York city were analyzed. Decedents with information on their usual industry and occupation were considered to be ever employed. Decedents with any mention of International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code J84.1 (other interstitial pulmonary diseases with fibrosis) on their death certificates and no mention of codes suggesting alternative diagnoses (M05–M08.9, M32–M35.0, M35.1, M35.5, M35.8–M36, underlying connective tissue diseases; J70.1, radiation fibrosis; D86, sarcoidosis; J60–J65, pneumoconiosis; or J67, hypersensitivity pneumonitis) were considered to have IPF. Among 3,414,188 ever-employed decedents, 24,341 (age-adjusted death rate 7.64 per 100,000 persons aged ≥15 years) met the definition for IPF. The highest age-adjusted IPF death rates per 100,000 persons aged ≥15 years were for males (8.33), Whites (8.89), and non-Hispanics (8.13). The highest proportionate mortality ratios were for workers employed in the utilities industry (1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05–1.31) and in healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (1.25; 95% CI = 1.17–1.32). The results of this study add to the weight of evidence supporting work exposure as a risk factor for IPF and identify industries and occupations placing workers at increased risk for IPF.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2023; 62: Suppl. 67, PA5169.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ERS International Congress, in session “Inflammatory endotyping: the macrophage across disease areas”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2023