Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Interstitial lung disease is a risk factor for ischaemic heart disease and myocardial infarction
Lorna Elise Clarson1, Ram Bajpai2, Rebecca Whittle2
1School of Primary, Community and Social Care, Keele University, Keele, UK l.clarson@keele.ac.uk.
Insights
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) significantly increases the risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and myocardial infarction (MI). Early cardiovascular risk assessment is crucial for patients with ILD, especially those aged 60-69.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Shared risk factors and pathways exist between interstitial lung disease (ILD) and cardiovascular diseases like ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and myocardial infarction (MI).
- The precise risk of IHD and MI in patients with ILD is not well-established, potentially hindering appropriate screening and preventative care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between ILD and the incidence of IHD and MI.
- To identify specific patient groups within ILD who are at higher risk for these cardiovascular events.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort study utilized electronic health records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and Hospital Episode Statistics.
- 68,572 patients with ILD (pulmonary sarcoidosis or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) were matched with 56,884 controls without ILD.
- Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was employed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for IHD and MI, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- ILD was independently associated with a significantly increased risk of IHD (HR 1.85) and MI (HR 1.74).
- The risk for both IHD and MI peaked between ages 60 and 69 years across ILD categories.
- Men with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (PF) faced the highest IHD risk, while women with PF had the greatest MI risk.
Conclusions:
- Interstitial lung disease, particularly PF, is an independent risk factor for MI and IHD, even after accounting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
- Clinicians should prioritize cardiovascular risk assessment in ILD patients, with a focus on those aged 60-69 years.
- Further research is warranted to explore the clinical implications of targeted cardiovascular risk management in the ILD population.
Objectives:
Despite many shared risk factors and pathophysiological pathways, the risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and myocardial infarction (MI) in interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains poorly understood. This lack of data could be preventing patients who may benefit from screening for these cardiovascular diseases from receiving it.
Methods:
A population-based cohort study used electronic patient records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and linked Hospital Episode Statistics to identify 68 572 patients (11 688 ILD exposed (mean follow-up: 3.8 years); 56 884 unexposed controls (mean follow-up: 4.0 years), with 349 067 person-years of follow-up. ILD-exposed patients (pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS) or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (PF)) were matched (by age, sex, registered general practice and available follow-up time) to patients without ILD or IHD/MI. Rates of incident MI and IHD were estimated. HRs were modelled using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression accounting for potential confounders.
Results:
ILD was independently associated with IHD (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.18) and MI (HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.11). In all disease categories, risk of both IHD and MI peaked between ages 60 and 69 years, except for the risk of MI in PS which was greatest <50 years. Men with PF were at greatest risk of IHD, while women with PF were at greatest risk of MI.
Conclusions:
ILD, particularly PF, is independently associated with MI and IHD after adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors. Our results suggest clinicians should prioritise targeted assessment of cardiovascular risk in patients with ILD, particularly those aged 60-69 years. Further research is needed to understand the impact of such an approach to risk management.
More Related Videos
07:35Aggravation of Myocardial Ischemia upon Particulate Matter Exposure in Atherosclerosis Animal Model
Published on: December 10, 2021
14:35Post-Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure in Closed-chest Coronary Occlusion/Reperfusion Model in Göttingen Minipigs and Landrace Pigs
Published on: April 17, 2021
Related Concept Videos
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...
01:21Myocarditis I: Introduction
01:23Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
01:26Imbalances in Cardiac Output
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send...