American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2022
Agent Orange Exposure and Risk of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Among U.S. Veterans.
Rationale: There is limited literature exploring the relationship between military exposures and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Objectives: To evaluate whether exposure to Agent Orange is associated with an increased risk of IPF among veterans. Methods: We used Veterans Health Administration data to identify patients diagnosed with IPF between 2010 and 2019. ⋯ After accounting for the competing risk of death, veterans with Agent Orange exposure were still more likely to develop IPF. Conclusions: Presumptive Agent Orange exposure is associated with greater risk of IPF. Future research should validate this association and investigate the biological mechanisms involved.