Registration of interstitial lung diseases by 20 centres of respiratory medicine in Flanders

Citation
M. Thomeer et al., Registration of interstitial lung diseases by 20 centres of respiratory medicine in Flanders, ACT CLIN B, 56(3), 2001, pp. 163-172
Citations number
41
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine
Journal title
ACTA CLINICA BELGICA
ISSN journal
00015512 → ACNP
Volume
56
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
163 - 172
Database
ISI
SICI code
0001-5512(200105/06)56:3<163:ROILDB>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
We report the results of a prospective registration of the prevalence of in terstitial lung diseases by 20 centres of respiratory medicine in Flanders from January 1992 till July 1996. The 20 centres registered a total of 362 cases. Sarcoidosis (31% with inclusion of stage I, or 22% without stage I), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (20%), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (13%) an d unclassified forms of interstitial lung diseases (9%) were the most often diagnosed diseases. The mean age of the patients was 52 +/- 17 (SD) years, but ranged from 32 +/- 10 years in histiocytosis X to 70 +/- 13 years in d rug induced interstitial lung diseases. The male to female ratio was 1.3 bu t ranged from 2.3 in interstitial lung diseases due to inhalation of inorga nic materials to 0.8 in interstitial lung diseases due to connective tissue disease. The diagnosis was considered certain in 60%, probable in 30% and possible in 10%. In 50% of the cases the diagnosis was proven by biopsy and the most often used biopsy technique was transbronchiolo-alveolar biopsy ( 40% of biopsies) followed by open lung biopsy (32%). At diagnosis vital cap acity was 82 +/- 22% pred. (ranging from 92 +/- 19% in sarcoidosis to 71 +/ - 24% in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) and GO-diffusing capacity was 77 +/ - 19% pred. (ranging from 77 +/- 19% in sarcoidosis to 41 +/- 13% in drug i nduced pneumonitis). The regional frequency of interstitial lung diseases i n Flanders varied widely and was not proportional to the regional distribut ion of the 20 contributing centres. In conclusion this registration provide s interesting information on the occurrence and presentation of the differe nt forms of interstitial lung diseases, although it may still underestimate the real prevalence and incidence of interstitial lung diseases.