CDC: 21 Percent of Deaths from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Might Be Due to Occupational Exposures
Around 21 percent of deaths from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) among U.S. residents during 2020–2022 might have been associated with occupational exposures, according to a report published in the March 6 issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). While the causes of IPF are unknown, studies have suggested occupational exposures to pesticides, wood dust, and metal dust as possible contributing factors. According to CDC, research has also indicated associations between IPF and cigarette smoking, genetic mutations, and viral infections such as Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis C. The 21-percent estimate is based on the agency’s exploratory analysis of multiple cause-of-death data from the National Vital Statistics System, which collects information on U.S. births and deaths. At the time of CDC’s analysis, 2020–2022 were the most recent years for which industry and occupation information was available for most decedents.
The report describes IPF as a disease “characterized by progressive scarring of lung tissue and declining lung function, with a median survival of 3–5 years after diagnosis.” CDC estimates that, among those with IPF listed as the underlying or a contributing cause of death, the deaths of 8,340 males and 5,908 females in 2020–2022 might have resulted from occupational exposures. The highest number of IPF deaths occurred among males who worked in the manufacturing industry and among females who worked in healthcare and social assistance. Workers in the public administration and educational services industries had some of the highest “significantly elevated” proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs), and the report’s authors—who are affiliated with the NIOSH Respiratory Health Division—also note elevated PMRs among workers in healthcare practitioner and technical occupations.
“Workers in some of these industries and occupations would be anticipated to have frequent exposure to secondhand smoke; vapors, gas, dust, and fumes; biologic (e.g., bioaerosols in indoor environments); chemical (e.g., pesticides); and other hazards in the workplace,” the report explains.
To learn more, read the MMWR report.
Related: The May 2018 installment of “By the Numbers” in The Synergist focuses on information from a CDC report about a unique cluster of IPF among dental professionals at a specialty clinic in Virginia.
