Screening criteria for interstitial lung disease associated to rheumatoid arthritis: Expert proposal based on Delphi methodology.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a joint proposal for screening criteria of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and vice versa, which serves as a guidelines in patient referral between the Rheumatology and Pneumology departments to early detection of these patients. METHODS: A systematic literature review was carried out on the risk factors for the development of ILD in RA patients, and for the referral criteria to Rheumatology for suspected early RA. Based on the available evidence, screening criteria were agreed using the Delphi method by a panel of pneumologists and rheumatologists with expertise in these pathologies. RESULTS: Screening criteria for ILD in patients with RA and for the early detection of RA in cases with ILD of unknown etiology have been developed. In both cases, a detection strategy was based on clinical risk factors. Recommendations also included the complementary tests to be carried out in the different clinical scenarios and on the periodicity that screening should be repeated. CONCLUSION: A selective screening strategy is recommended for the first time in the early diagnosis of patients with ILD-RA. This multidisciplinary proposal aims to solve some common clinical questions and help decision-making, although its usefulness to identify these patients with good sensitivity must be confirmed in a validation study.

SER-SEPAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease. Part 1: Epidemiology, risk factors and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop multidisciplinary recommendations to improve the management of rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). METHODS: Clinical research questions relevant to the objective of the document were identified by a panel of rheumatologists and pneumologists selected based on their experience in the field. Systematic reviews of the available evidence were conducted, and evidence was graded according to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) criteria. Specific recommendations were made. RESULTS: Six PICO questions were selected, three of which analysed the incidence and prevalence of RA-ILD, associated risk factors, and predictors of progression and mortality. A total of 6 specific recommendations on these topics, structured by question, were formulated based on the evidence found and/or expert consensus. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first official SER-SEPAR document with specific recommendations for RA-ILD management developed to resolve some common clinical questions and facilitate decision-making for patients.

A multi-criteria decision analysis on the value of nintedanib for interstitial lung diseases.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to assess the value of nintedanib for non-idiopathic progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (non-IPF PF-ILD) and systemic sclerosis-associated ILD (SSc-ILD) in the Spanish context, using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). METHODS: Following an adaptation of the Evidence and Value: Impact on DEcision Making (EVIDEM) MCDA methodology, the estimated value of nintedanib was obtained by means of an additive linear model that combined individual weights (100-points distribution) of criteria with the individual scoring of nintedanib in each criterion for every indication, assigned by a multidisciplinary committee of twelve clinicians, patients, pharmacists, and decision-makers. To assess the reproducibility, an alternative weighting method was applied, as well as a re-test of weights and scores at a different moment of time. RESULTS: The experts committee recognized nintedanib as an intervention with a positive value contribution in comparison to placebo for the treatment of non-IPF PF-ILD (0.50 ± 0.16, on a scale from -1 to 1) and SSc-ILD (0.40 ± 0.12), diseases which were considered as very severe and with high unmet needs. The drug was perceived as a treatment that provides an added therapeutic benefit for patients (0.06-0.07), given its proven clinical efficacy (0.05-0.06), slight improvements in patient-reported outcomes (0.01-0.02), and similar safety profile than placebo (-0.04-0.00), which will likely be positioned as a recommended therapy in the next clinical practice guidelines updates. CONCLUSIONS: Under this increasingly used methodology, nintedanib has shown to provide a positive value estimate for non-IPF PF-ILD and SSc-ILD when compared to placebo in Spain.

Management of progressive pulmonary fibrosis associated with connective tissue disease.

INTRODUCTION: Fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent and severe complication of connective tissue disease (CTD). AREAS COVERED: In this narrative review, we update the most relevant differential characteristics of fibrotic ILD associated with CTD (CTD-ILD) and propose a diagnostic and therapeutic approach based on a review of the articles published between 2002 and 2022 through PubMed. EXPERT OPINION: The subset of ILD, mainly the radiological/histological pattern and the degree of fibrotic component, usually determines the prognosis and therapeutic strategy for these patients. Some patients with CTD-ILD can develop progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) with severe deterioration of lung function, rapid progression to chronic respiratory failure, and high mortality. PPF has been described in many CTDs, mainly in systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and requires a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach to improve patient outcomes.

Biological Biomarkers in Respiratory Diseases. / Biomarcadores biológicos en las enfermedades respiratorias.

In recent years, personalized or precision medicine has made effective inroads into the management of diseases, including respiratory diseases. The route to implementing this approach must invariably start with the identification and validation of biological biomarkers that are closely related to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of respiratory patients. In this respect, biological biomarkers of greater or lesser reliability have been identified for most respiratory diseases and disease classes, and a large number of studies are being conducted in the search for new indicators. The aim of this review is to update the reader and to analyze the existing scientific literature on the existence and diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic validity of the most important biological biomarkers in the main respiratory diseases, and to identify future challenges in this area.

Different Faces of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis With Preserved Forced Vital Capacity.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is progressive and irreversible. Some discrepancies about IPF staging exists, especially in mild phases. Forced vital capacity (FVC) higher than 80% has been considered early or mild IPF even for the design of clinical trials. METHODS: Spanish multicentre, observational, retrospective study of IPF patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2016, based on the ATS/ERS criteria, which presented FVC greater or equal 80% at diagnosis. Clinical and demographic characteristics, lung function, radiological pattern, treatment, and follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: 225 IPF patients were included, 72.9% were men. The mean age was 69.5 years. The predominant high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) pattern was consistent usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (51.6%). 84.7% of patients presented respiratory symptoms (exertional dyspnea and/or cough) and 33.33% showed oxygen desaturation below 90% in the 6min walking test (6MWT). Anti-fibrotic treatment was initiated at diagnosis in 55.11% of patients. Median FVC was 89.6% (IQR 17) and 58.7% of patients had a decrease of diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) below 60% of theoretical value; most of them presented functional progression (61.4%) and higher mortality at 3 years (20.45%). A statistically significant correlation with the 3-years mortality was observed between DLCO <60% and consistent UIP radiological pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with preserved FVC but presenting UIP radiological pattern and moderate-severe DLCO decrease at diagnosis associate an increased risk of progression, death or lung transplantation. Therefore, in these cases, preserved FVC would not be representative of early or mild IPF.

Impact of high-flow oxygen therapy during exercise in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a pilot crossover clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Supplemental oxygen delivered with standard oxygen therapy (SOT) improves exercise capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Although high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) improves oxygenation in other respiratory diseases, its impact on exercise performance has never been evaluated in IPF patients. We hypothesized that HFNC may improve exercise capacity in IPF subjects compared to SOT. METHODS: This was a prospective, crossover, pilot randomized trial that compared both oxygenation methods during a constant submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in IPF patients with exertional oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤ 85% in the 6-min walking test. The primary outcome was endurance time (Tlim). Secondary outcomes were muscle oxygen saturation (StO2) and respiratory and leg symptoms. RESULTS: Ten IPF patients [71.7 (6) years old, 90% males] were included. FVC and DLCO were 58 ± 11% and 31 ± 13% pred. respectively. Tlim during CPET was significantly greater using HFNC compared to SOT [494 ± 173 vs. 381 ± 137 s, p = 0.01]. HFNC also associated with a higher increase in inspiratory capacity (IC) [19.4 ± 14.2 vs. 7.1 ± 8.9%, respectively; p = 0.04], and a similar trend was observed in StO2 during exercise. No differences were found in respiratory or leg symptoms between the two oxygen devices. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study demonstrating that HFNC oxygen therapy improves exercise tolerance better than SOT in IPF patients with exertional desaturation. This might be explained by changes in ventilatory mechanics and muscle oxygenation. Further and larger studies are needed to confirm the benefits of HFNC in IPF patients and its potential usefulness in rehabilitation programs.

Diagnostic delay of associated interstitial lung disease increases mortality in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease whose main extra-articular organ affected is the lung, sometimes in the form of diffuse interstitial lung disease (ILD) and conditions the prognosis. A multicenter, observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of consecutive patients diagnosed with RA-ILD. Demographic, analytical, respiratory functional and evolution characteristics were analyzed to evaluate the predictors of progression and mortality. 106 patients were included. The multivariate analysis showed that the diagnostic delay was an independent predictor of mortality (HR 1.11, CI 1.01-1.23, p = 0.035). Also, age (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.09-1.62, p = 0.0045), DLCO (%) (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73-0.98, p = 0.0246), and final SatO2 (%) in the 6MWT (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39-0.99, p = 0.0465) were independent predictor variables of mortality, as well as GAP index (HR 4.65, 95% CI 1.59-13.54, p = 0.0051) and CPI index (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.22, p = 0.0092). The withdrawal of MTX or LFN after ILD diagnosis was associated with disease progression in the COX analysis (HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.14-4.18, p = 0.019). This is the first study that highlights the diagnostic delay in RA-ILD is associated with an increased mortality just like happens in IPF.

The Beginning of the Trend Change in Lung Cancer Mortality Trends in Spain, 1980-2018.

BACKGROUND: Recently, some countries have shown stable trends in lung cancer death rates among women not yet described for Spain. We propose to update lung cancer mortality rates in Spain during the period of 1980-2018 by sex and region. METHODS: We used lung cancer mortality (International Classification of Diseases code 162 for the 9th edition, and codes C33 and C34 for 10th edition) and population data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute for the period 1980-2018. Age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs), all ages and 30-64 years, by region and sex were assessed through joinpoint regression. RESULTS: During the study period lung cancer ASMRs (all ages) in men decreased -0.4% per annum and increased by 3.1% in women. Recently, ASMR (30-64 years) accelerated its decrease (1992-2007; -0.7 and 2007-2018; -3.5%) in men and slowed its increase (1990-2012; 5.7% and 2012-2018; 1.4%) in women. In men, joinpoint analysis detected an initial period in all Autonomous Communities (ACs) in which the rates significantly increased, followed by a second period in which the rates decreased significantly (12 ACs) or remained stable (4 ACs) since the late 1980s or early 1990s. In women, upward trends in ASMRs (all ages) were observed for the whole period in all the ACs. In 13 ACs, an initial period was detected with joinpoint in which the rates remained stable or significantly decreased, followed by a second period in which the rates increased significantly since the late 1980s or early 1990s. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows gender differences in lung cancer mortality trends in Spain. These differences may be explained by the increased use of tobacco among women and the decreased use among men.

Questions and Answers on Smoking in Patients With Diffuse ILD. Use of PICO Methodology. / Preguntas y respuestas relacionadas con tabaquismo en pacientes con EPID. Aplicación de metodología con formato PICO.

INTRODUCTION: The Smoking and the Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) groups of ALAT and SEPAR collaborated in the preparation of this document. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This document uses PICO methodology to answer various questions on the relationship between tobacco use and diffuse ILD. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The main recommendations are: a) moderate level of evidence and strong recommendation to consider smoking as a risk factor for the development and/or modification of the progression of diffuse ILD; b) moderate level of evidence to identify an increase in mortality in diffuse ILD, irrespective of histologic pattern. Low evidence for ascribing it to smoking and strong recommendation for the early identification of patients with diffuse ILD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation in patients with diffuse ILD; c) low level of evidence and weak recommendation for defining the impact of passive smoking in diffuse ILD; d) low level of evidence to demonstrate that smoking cessation improves the outcomes of patients diagnosed with diffuse ILD and strong recommendation to advise smoking cessation in smokers with diffuse ILD, and e) low level of evidence to support the clinical or epidemiological usefulness of active case finding for diffuse ILD in smoking cessation programs, and strong recommendation justifying the performance of spirometry in active case finding, based not on current smoking status, but on previous accumulated consumption, even in asymptomatic cases.

Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis in the Elderly.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common and most lethal type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. It is a chronic, aging-associated lung disease characterized by fibrotic foci and inflammatory infiltrates, with no cure and very limited therapeutic options. Although its etiology is unknown, several pathogenic pathways have been described that could explain this process, involving aging, environmental factors, genomic instability, loss of proteostasis, telomere attrition, epigenetic changes, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell senescence, and altered intercellular communication. One of the main prognostic factors for the development of IPF in broad epidemiological studies is age. The incidence increases with age, making this a disease that predominantly affects the elderly population, being exceptional under 45 years of age. However, the degree to which each of these mechanisms is involved in the etiology of the uncontrolled fibrogenesis that defines IPF is still unknown. Clarifying these questions is crucial to the development of points of intervention in the pathogenesis of the disease. This review briefly summarizes what is known about each possible etiological factor, and the questions that most urgently need to be addressed.