Influence of Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors on the Natural History of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis(IPF) is the most common idiopathic interstitial lung disease whose cause is unknown. With age and gender, socio-economic factors are the most influential indicators of health. At present there is very little data on socio-economic factors in the IPF. The investigators hypothesize that a lower socio-economic level and / or exposure to various air pollutants may influence the IPF's natural history, including the severity of diagnosis and prognosis of the IPF. The investigators also hypothesize that the deleterious effect of air pollutants is modulated by individual susceptibility (shorter telomeres) and that this effect is related to oxidative stress and shortening of telomeres.