Assessment of risk factors for interstitial lung disease in patients’ dwellings in Paris

This study analyzes the data collected during audits of the housing of Parisian patients to highlight links between elements in the habitat and a diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD). An exploratory case-control study was performed with data from 122 patients interviewed from 2011 to 2017: 47 patients had ILD, 75 control patients had extrapulmonary conditions. The diagnosis of ILD was significantly correlated with four of the 14 factors examined (by measurement data and questionnaires): presence of plants in the dwelling (odds ratio (OR) = 4.14; 95% CI = (1.45;11.811), presence of pigeons near the home (OR = 3.9; 95% IC = [1.56;9.76]), presence of Penicillium spp in the samples (air, dust, or surfaces) (OR = 3.33; 95% IC = (1.41;7.881), and housing occupancy > 10 years (OR = 3.06; 95% IC = (134;6.981). The on-site audit identified risk factors present in the habitat that could affect the health of the occupants possibly requiring eviction measures.