Baseline characteristics in patients with interstitial lung diseases as predictors for progression: a real life study

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) comprise a large number of different diseases, some of the patients having a progressive evolution toward irreversible fibrosis. The aim of this study is to identify baseline clinical, functional, and imaging characteristics at the date of the diagnosis, that could predict the evolution toward fibrosis.

This is a retrospective descriptive study that included 126 patients diagnosed and followed-up in Department 5 of the Institute of Pneumophtisiology “Marius Nasta” Bucharest between 2014 and 2022.

The authors recorded baseline demographics, symptoms, lung function tests (forced vital capacity – FVC and diffusion capacity – DLCO), high resolution CT (HRCT) imaging features. Patients were followed-up at 6 and 12 months. According to decline in lung function or imaging worsening, patients were divided in2 groups: progressors (60 patients) and non-progressors (26 patients). Baseline characteristics of the 2 groups were compared.

Results: There is an important delay since onset of symptoms to diagnosis (a mean of 17 months). Lower baseline FVC, smoking history, presence of traction bronchiectasis and/or honeycombing and male gender were associated to progressive lung fibrosis.