Environmental exposures and social determinants are key in patients with pulmonary fibrosis

The renowned Dr. Kerri Johannson, a member of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases at Canada’s University of Calgary, gave an IDIBELL seminar on January 12 at the Bellvitge Campus on the impact of environmental exposures on patients with pulmonary fibrosis.

Dr. Maria Molina, head of the Pneumology research group at IDIBELL and head of the Functional Pulmonary Interstitial Unit of the Pneumology Service at the HUB, introduced Johannson’s presentation, highlighting her as an example of an “enthusiastic publicist and committed” in the field of Interstitial Pulmonary Diseases (MPID). The research of Dra. Johannson is focused on the relationship between inhalation exposures and MPIDs, as well as the impact of environmental and social determinants of health on patient outcomes.

“Interstitial Lung Diseases are not just a matter of genetics,” said Dr. Johannson and, through the exhibition of data, made it clear that not everything can be answered by the potential genetic origin. In fact, specialized studies in this field put the genetic influence on MPID below 20%. “26% of cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are attributed to exposures related to the patient’s occupation”, recalled the Canadian expert and emphasized the need to take into account various social determinants such as education, housing, food or social justice .

Johannson also pointed out the obvious gender inequalities that exist in this disease. Specifically, men are overdiagnosed in MPID, while women are significantly underdiagnosed. In addition, women have a lower survival rate, are less likely to be present in clinical trials, and experience more side effects from prescribed medication.

Finally, the professor from the University of Calgary provided advice for clinical practice to the seminar attendees, in addition to pointing out the ineffectiveness of many questionnaires on Interstitial Lung Diseases: “They are not very effective because they are more intended for others conditions such as asthma”, Johannson considers.

The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a biomedical research center created in 2004. It is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.

IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).