Healthcare utilisation and costs in the diagnosis and treatment of progressive-fibrosing interstitial lung diseases

Abstract

There are over 200 interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). In addition to patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a percentage of patients with other ILDs also develop progressive fibrosis of the lung during their disease course. Patients with progressive-fibrosing ILDs may show limited response to immunomodulatory therapy, worsening symptoms and lung function and, ultimately, early mortality. There are few data for ILDs that may present a progressive fibrosing phenotype specifically, but we believe the burden and healthcare costs associated with these conditions may be comparable to those reported in IPF. This review discusses the burden of ILDs that may present a progressive fibrosing phenotype and the factors impacting healthcare utilisation.

Rehabilitation in chronic respiratory diseases: Live your life to the max

“…Asthma is associated with a high burden of disease and substantial economic and societal impact . Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) represent a heterogeneous group of chronic and often progressive lung conditions, with limited response to pharmacotherapy, increasing disability and incremental healthcare utilization . Despite advances in pharmacological treatments for these and other chronic respiratory diseases, a large proportion of patients remain symptomatic and suffer from frequent exacerbations and hospitalizations, and the course of these diseases cannot be reversed.…”

Current monitoring and treatment of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease: a survey of physicians in Japan, the United States, and the European Union

“…An official international guideline which includes the definition, diagnosis, and management of progressive fibrosing ILD is required. Moreover, improved treatment options are urgently needed because progressive fibrosing ILD negatively affects patients' daily activities and functioning, reduces quality of life [53], and is thought to increase healthcare utilization [54]. Our findings also suggest that collaboration between specialties and a multidisciplinary approach to the management of ILD is required [55-57].…”

The Burden of Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Disease: A DELPHI Approach

“…Panellists estimated that the number of patients who had suffered one acute exacerbation during the last year was more than two times higher in progressive fibrosing ILD patients than in patients with non-/slow-progressive fibrosing ILD (mean [Q1-Q3]: 19.7% [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] vs. 7.2% [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10], respectively). The number of patients who had suffered more than one exacerbation during the last year was more than three times higher in progressive fibrosing ILD patients than in patients with non-/slow-progressive…”

“…IPF has a significant impact on daily functioning and patients' quality of life [11,12] and represents a substantial burden on the healthcare system [13]. Similarly, non-IPF progressive fibrosing ILD impairs patients' quality of life and, because of its resemblance in pathogenesis, is expected to increase the use of healthcare resources and costs in a comparable way [12,14].…”