Baseline characteristics from the EXCITING-ILD registry

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Epidemiology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) encompass over 200 subtypes with varied outcomes.
• Limited real-world data exists for ILD prevalence and characteristics in Germany.
• Understanding ILD epidemiology is crucial for improving patient care and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of ILD subtypes in Germany.
• To analyze diagnostic and treatment patterns within a real-world patient cohort.
• To identify factors influencing time to diagnosis for interstitial lung diseases.

Main Methods:

• Prospective enrollment of 601 patients with diverse ILD subtypes across 32 German centers.
• Data collection included baseline characteristics, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies.
• Descriptive analysis and statistical tests (Wilcoxon signed-rank sum) were employed.

Main Results:

• Sarcoidosis (26.6%) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (25.3%) were the most common ILDs.
• Pulmonary hypertension was noted in 8.7% of patients, higher in specific ILD subtypes.
• Multidisciplinary discussion significantly reduced diagnosis time (31.6 vs. 49.2 months).

Conclusions:

• The EXCITING-ILD registry offers a representative overview of ILD in Germany.
• Findings highlight ILD subtype frequencies, patient impairments, and comorbidities.
• The study underscores the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in ILD diagnosis.