[Prognostic factors in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a tunisian cohort]

We present data on prognostic factors in a Tunisian cohort of people with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has a poor prognosis, with a median survival in patients with the condition of only 3 to 5 years. Previous studies have identified a number of prognostic factors in this chronic pulmonary disease.

We conducted a retrospective study, including patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who were diagnosed at the Pneumology Department of the University Hospital Fattouma-Bourguiba, Monastir, between 1991 and 2014. The aim of this study was to compare clinical, radiological, pulmonary functional predictors of survival in IPF in a Tunisian cohort with those of previous studies.

This study included 126 patients. Their mean age was 66 years, with a male predominance (68.3%). Respiratory function tests revealed a restrictive ventilatory deficit in 72.6% of cases. The median survival of our study population was 22.5 months [6.7-49.5]. In univariate analysis, factors associated with a poor prognosis were: lower baseline values of TLC, FCV and DLco, level of dyspnea assessed by mMRC scale, hypoxemia at diagnosis, the degree of desaturation during exercise, a higher annual decline of FVC and DLco, acute respiratory distress and also the GAP score. In multivariate analysis, independent prognostic factors were: baseline DLco, level of dyspnea, desaturation at exertion and the annual decline of the DLco.

Lower baseline DLco, the level of dyspnea, desaturation on exercise, and annual decline in DLco are all associated with a poor prognosis in IPF.