Demographic and clinical profile of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients in Spain: the SEPAR National Registry.

BACKGROUND: Little is known on the characteristics of patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Spain. We aimed to characterize the demographic and clinical profile of IPF patients included in the IPF National Registry of the Spanish Respiratory Society (SEPAR). METHODS: This is a prospective, observational, multicentre and nationwide study that involved 608 IPF patients included in the SEPAR IPF Registry up to June 27th, 2017, and who received any treatment for their disease. IPF patients were predominantly males, ex-smokers, and aged in their 70s, similar to other registries. RESULTS: Upon inclusion, mean ± SD predicted forced vital capacity was 77.6% ± 19.4, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide was 48.5% ± 17.7, and the 6-min walk distance was 423.5 m ± 110.4. The diagnosis was mainly established on results from the high-resolution computed tomography in the proper clinical context (55.0% of patients), while 21.2% of patients required invasive procedures (surgical lung biopsy) for definitive diagnosis. Anti-fibrotic treatment was prescribed in 69.4% of cases, 51.5% pirfenidone and 17.9% nintedanib, overall with a good safety profile. CONCLUSIONS: The SEPAR IPF Registry should help to further characterize current characteristics and future trends of IPF patients in Spain and compare/pool them with other registries and cohorts.

[Exposure to environmental contaminants and respiratory disease. Spotlight on the year 2009]. / Exposición a contaminantes ambientales y enfermedad respiratoria. Un foco de atención en el año 2009.

The continued inhalation of contaminants present in the air that we breathe is a common cause of respiratory disease. Classically, this exposure-disease relationship has been proved in the workplace and as a cause of specific diseases such as pneumoconiosis and occupational asthma. However, there is increasing evidence indicating an association between occupational exposure and other more prevalent respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and lung cancer. The effect of contamination is also observed outside the workplace. The air in cities can contribute to increasing the morbidity and mortality due to chronic respiratory diseases. Some articles published during the year 2009 that have a bearing on aspects associated with respiratory diseases of occupational or environmental origin are reviewed below.