Race, Ethnicity, and Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease

It is well known that both socioeconomic and biological factors may contribute to race- and
ethnicity-based health disparities. Black and Hispanic Americans have worse access to
healthcare services and tend to receive care from physicians who cannot themselves access
the same services for their patients that physicians who care for white patients can. These
factors may play important roles in the development and maintenance of health disparities.
In addition, biological differences may contribute to disparities. We propose to identify
factors that explain survival disparities in a group of lung diseases called diffuse
parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs), including a severe form of DPLD called idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We will follow patients with DPLD at our center and measure both
social and biological factors to try to identify the factors that lead to survival
disparities between races. Results of this study will be used to design clinical trials
aimed at reducing these disparities.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of IPF or other DPLD according to ATS criteria

- Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

- None