NEW research highlights the critical role of neighbourhood health in shaping outcomes for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The study, revealed that living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods is linked to worse lung function at diagnosis and higher mortality rates, particularly among patients with milder forms of the disease.
The researchers analysed data from 783 IPF patients enrolled in the University of California, San Francisco IPF Cohort between 2001 and 2020. Participants’ home addresses were matched with the California Healthy Places Index (HPI), which assesses neighbourhood health based on factors such as economic conditions, education, and social resources.
Key findings showed that for every 10% increase in neighbourhood advantage (measured by the HPI), patients had a 1% improvement in pulmonary function tests, including forced vital capacity (FVC) and lung diffusion capacity (DlCO). Importantly, poorer neighbourhood conditions were associated with nearly threefold higher mortality in patients presenting with milder disease (normal to mildly impaired lung function). However, for those with moderate to severe lung function impairment, the link between neighbourhood health and survival was less pronounced.
The study underscores the influence of socioeconomic and environmental factors on health outcomes in IPF. Economic stability, education, and access to community resources emerged as key contributors to better pulmonary health and survival.
These findings emphasise the need for healthcare providers to consider the broader social determinants of health in managing IPF. Addressing neighbourhood disparities could lead to earlier interventions and tailored care for those at the highest risk, ultimately improving survival outcomes in this progressive lung disease.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
DeDent AM et al. Neighborhood Health and Outcomes in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. ATS. 2024; DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202304-323OC.
