Associations between comorbidities and survival in patients with interstitial lung diseases

Introduction: Interstitial lung diseases(ILDs)encompass a wide and varied range of parenchymal pulmonary disorders. Comorbidities can pre-exist or develop at any time during the course of the disease. Prognostication in ILDs remains challenging, and the relationship between comorbidities and survival has yet to be characterized. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between comorbid conditions and survival in patients with various ILDs. Methods: A retrospective study including 69 hospitalized patients between June and December 2020 for acute exacerbations of fibrosing ILDs in Pneumology department of Hedi Chaker hospital Sfax Tunisia. We compared 2 groups:G1(patients with comorbidities, n=42) and G2 (patients without comorbidities, n=27). Results: Mean age was 63 years in G1 vs 61 years inG2. Twenty five patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were included in this study. The mean number of comorbidities was1.6(≥2 comorbidities in 21cases(50%)). Most frequent comorbidities groups was non respiratory comorbidities included arterial hypertension(18cases), diabetes(15cases) and coronary heart disease(6cases). Respiratory comorbidities were lung cancer(4cases)and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)(4cases). Long-term oxygen therapy was prescribed in 28% in G1 vs 24%G2, p=0.7). Deceased patients had more co-morbidities than survivors(5%G1 vs 4%G2, p=0.83). Acute exacerbations appear to be more common in patients with comorbidities (1.74 G1vs 1.00 G2, p=0.001). These patients had also the longest stays in hospital(24.5 days on average vs 19.4, p=0.6). Conclusion: Early identification and accurate treatment of comorbidities is essential. It can help determine the prognosis in ILDs.