Background: Lately a potential detrimental effect of air pollution to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis emerged. We aimed to assess the effects of short-term air pollution exposure to the clinical course of IPF.
Research design and methods: IPF patients were followed intensively for four nonconsecutive study periods between 13 July 2020 and 5 September 2021. Short-term exposure to O3, NO2 and PM10 concentrations was estimated using spatio-temporal land use regression models. Associations among symptoms, lung function, oxygen saturation, and short-term personal air pollutant exposure were assessed through multiple mixed effects logistic regression models.
Results: Data for up to 24 IPF patients (mean age: 72.2 ± 7.6 years) were analyzed. We detected positive significant associations between cough and a 10 μg/m3 increase in same day mean level of NO2 (OR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.00-2.53), PM10 (OR = 2.42, 95%CI: 1.54-3.79), and O3 (OR = 1.63, 95%CI: 1.14-2.32). A 10 μg/m3 increase in same day mean level of NO2 was also associated with the risk of appearance of wheezing (OR = 3.01, 95%CI: 1.00-9.04), while exposure to O3 was associated with common cold (OR = 6.30, 95%CI: 3.59-11.07). No significant associations were detected between short-term exposure to air pollutants and forced vital capacity or saturation of oxygen.
Conclusions: Short-term exposure to increased concentrations of air pollutants is an independent risk factor for IPF symptoms' aggravation.
Keywords: Air pollution; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; nitrogen dioxide; ozone; particulate matter; short-term personal exposure; symptoms.