Sex-Specific Clinical Characteristics and Mortality Predictors in Patients With Usual Interstitial Pneumonia Pattern:...

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease with unclear sex-specific outcomes.
• UIP predominantly affects older males, necessitating research into its clinical characteristics and risk factors in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate demographic, clinical, radiological, and mortality patterns in patients with a UIP pattern on HRCT.
• To identify predictors of mortality in a real-world cohort of UIP patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 100 patients diagnosed with a UIP pattern via HRCT.
• Data collected from a tertiary chest clinic in Turkey (2015-2025).
• Analysis included demographic, clinical, radiological, and survival data; multivariable logistic regression was used to identify mortality predictors.

Main Results:

• The cohort was predominantly male (72%), with a mean age of 68.4 years and a high smoking burden (32.5 pack-years).
• Radiological progression was observed in 48% of patients, and overall mortality was 26%.
• Malignancy (aOR=2.85) and older age (aOR=1.06 per year) were independent predictors of mortality; smoking load was not significantly associated with mortality.

Conclusions:

• UIP presents a significant burden in older men, with malignancy and advanced age being key mortality predictors.
• Routine malignancy screening and individualized follow-up are crucial for managing UIP in men.
• Integrating UIP surveillance into men's health programs can improve outcomes and awareness.