Occupational and Environmental Exposures Analysis in Interstitial Lung Diseases: a Prospective Observational Study.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) represent a diverse group of parenchymal lung disorders associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with few FDA-approved treatment options available. While certain subtypes-such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and pneumoconiosis-are clearly linked to environmental exposures, the role of such exposures in other ILD forms remains less well defined. Recent evidence has showed that most patients across all types of ILD had potentially relevant inhalational exposures. Exposures were associated with worse transplant-free survival. Thus, identification and avoidance of exposures represent actionable targets in ILD management.

Different questionnaires have been proposed to evaluate occupational and environmental exposure in such patients. However, to date, there aren't standardized and validated questionnaires addressing exposures in patients with ILD. Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) represent a diverse group of parenchymal lung disorders associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with few FDA-approved treatment options available. While certain subtypes-such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and pneumoconiosis-are clearly linked to environmental exposures, the role of such exposures in other ILD forms remains less well defined. Recent evidence has showed that most patients across all types of ILD had potentially relevant inhalational exposures. Exposures were associated with worse transplant-free survival. Thus, identification and avoidance of exposures represent actionable targets in ILD management.

Different questionnaires have been proposed to evaluate occupational and environmental exposure in such patients. However, to date, there aren't standardized and validated questionnaires addressing exposures in patients with ILD. Moreover, frequency of exposure across different types of ILDs are not well defined in Italy.