Does the presence of connective tissue disease modify survival in patients with pulmonary fibrosis?

Respir Med. 2011 Dec;105(12):1925-30. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2011.08.015. Epub 2011 Sep 15.

Abstract

Objectives: Previous studies into the survival differences between individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and those with connective tissue disease associated pulmonary fibrosis (CTD-PF) have yielded mixed results. The aim of this study is to compare the survival of individuals with CTD-PF to those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis clinical syndrome (IPF-CS) using data derived from The Health Improvement network, a large primary care database in the UK.

Methods: Incident cases of CTD-PF and IPF-CS between the years 2000-2009 were identified. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier methods, stratified by type of connective tissue disease. Cox regression was then used to compare mortality rates between the groups, adjusting for age, gender and year of diagnosis.

Results: A total of 324 cases of CTD-PF and 2209 cases of IPF-CS were followed up over a mean period of 2.3 years. During this period, 113 (34.9%) cases of CTD-PF and 1073 (48.6%) cases of IPF-CS died. The mortality rates for cases with CTD-PF and IPF-CS were 123.6 per 1000 person years (95%CI: 102.8-148.9) and 229.8 per 1000 person years (95% CI: 216.4-244.0) respectively. After adjusting for age, sex and year of diagnosis, cases with CTD-PF had a better prognosis compared to those with IPF-CS (HR 0.76,95%CI: 0.62-0.92).

Conclusion: The prognosis of individuals with CTD-PF appears to be significantly better than those with IPF-CS, but remains an important cause of death in patients with connective tissue disease, and requires more effective treatment options.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / complications*
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / mortality*
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / pathology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / complications*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / mortality*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology