Occupational Exposures and Subclinical Interstitial Lung Disease. The MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) Air and Lung Studies

• DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201612-2431oc
• Publication Date: 2017-07-28T15:19:36Z
• Authors: Coralynn S. Sack; Brent C. Doney; Anna J. Podolanczuk; Laura G. Hooper; Noah S. Seixas; Eric A. Hoffman; Steven M. Kawut; Sverre Vedal; Ganesh Raghu; R. Graham Barr; David J. Lederer; Joel D. Kaufman
• Keywords: Subclinical infection; Occupational lung disease

The impact of a broad range occupational exposures on subclinical interstitial lung disease (ILD) has not been studied.To determine whether to vapors, gas, dust, and fumes (VGDF) are associated with high-attenuation areas (HAA) abnormalities (ILA), which quantitative qualitative computed tomography (CT)-based measurements ILD, respectively.We performed analyses participants enrolled in MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study Atherosclerosis), population-based cohort aged 45-84 years at recruitment. HAA was measured baseline serial cardiac CT scans 5,702 participants. ILA ascertained subset 2,312 who underwent full-lung scanning 10-year follow-up. Occupational were assessed by self-reported VGDF exposure job-exposure matrix (JEM). Linear mixed models logistic regression used log-transformed ILA. Models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, employment status, tobacco use, scanner technology.Each JEM score increment 2.64% greater (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-4.19%). Self-reported vapors/gas an increased odds among those currently employed (1.76-fold; 95% CI, 1.09-2.84) less than 65 old (1.97-fold; 1.16-3.35). There no consistent evidence that progression over the follow-up period.JEM-assigned ILD community-dwelling adults.