Abstract

A higher proportion of patients diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) live in cities with higher levels of air pollutants, according to new research published in the European Respiratory Journal.

The study used prospective data from patients diagnosed with HP taken from the India Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) registry, to assess whether there is an association between the proportions of HP cases in various Indian cities, and the levels of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Lead researcher Professor Ganesh Raghu, MD, explains the rationale behind the research: “We discovered that the majority of patients with HP in India were living in urban cities, prompting an investigation into the link between ambient air pollution in urban India and the high incidence of HP.”

Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that increases in PM2.5 levels were associated with an increase in the risk of developing HP more frequently than any other ILD. The researchers say the data shows that the odds of developing HP were 7% greater for every 10 µg/m3 increase in the levels of PM2.5 in cities.

This study raises concerns for people living in polluted urban areas, who are also exposed to other environmental factors such as birds, mould, and manifesting respiratory problems.

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