One in five cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ‘preventable’

People with a family history need advice from their doctors on avoiding exposures, researchers say
Clare Pain
carpenter smoking while he works

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is likely caused by preventable environmental exposures in one in five cases, an Australian study suggests.

This finding, combined with the confirmation of a strong association with family history, means that people at risk need advice from their doctors on avoiding exposures that could trigger the disease, the authors say.