ILD year in review: New guidelines, FDA approvals and more
The Healio editors have compiled a list of the most-read news on interstitial lung diseases published in 2020.
Highlights include new research on the links between COVID-19 and ILD; a new guideline on the use of home oxygen therapy in adults with ILD and COPD; online home monitoring for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; and FDA approval of nintedanib oral capsules for chronic fibrosing ILDs with a progressive phenotype.
Read these articles, and others, below, in no particular order.
ILD a risk factor for poor outcomes from COVID-19
Older adults with ILD and COVID-19 appear to have increased risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death, researchers reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Read more
FDA approves first treatment for progressive ILDs
The FDA approved the first treatment — nintedanib oral capsules — to treat patients with chronic fibrosing ILDs with a progressive phenotype, according to an agency press release. Read more
ATS issues new guidance on home oxygen therapy for adults with COPD, ILD
A new guideline issued by the American Thoracic Society addresses long-term and ambulatory home oxygen therapy use in patients with ILD and COPD. Read more
Online home monitoring improves psychological well-being in patients with IPF
A comprehensive online home monitoring program for patients with IPF did not improve health-related quality of life, but improved patients’ psychological well-being. Read more
Nintedanib reduces ILD progression irrespective of underlying diagnosis
Treatment with nintedanib slowed the rate of ILD progression in patients with chronic fibrosing ILD and progressive phenotype, irrespective of their underlying ILD diagnosis, according to analysis of the INBUILD trial. Read more
FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation to Esbriet for unclassifiable ILD
The FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation to pirfenidone for the treatment of adults with unclassifiable ILD, according to a press release from Genentech. Read more
Mortality due to COVID-19 elevated in patients with preexisting ILD
Mortality due to COVID-19 was higher in patients with preexisting fibrotic idiopathic ILD compared with other ILDs, researchers reported. Read more
Inhaled treprostinil improves outcomes in ILD-associated pulmonary hypertension
Inhaled treprostinil was well tolerated and significantly improved exercise capacity and other clinical outcomes over 16 weeks in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with ILD, according to results of the INCREASE study. Read more
Few Americans aware of pulmonary fibrosis symptoms
In a recent survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, 86% reported not knowing the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis, according to a press release from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. Read more
ATS guideline addresses challenges in diagnosing hypersensitivity pneumonitis
The American Thoracic Society issued a new clinical practice guideline to aid clinicians in diagnosing hypersensitivity pneumonitis in patients with newly diagnosed ILD — the first new guidance in 3 decades. Read more
Methotrexate does not increase risk for rheumatoid arthritis-associated ILD
Methotrexate use by patients with rheumatoid arthritis was not associated with an increased risk for developing ILD, according to a study published in European Respiratory Journal. Read more
Connective tissue disease-related ILD leads to significant workplace productivity loss
Fifty-nine percent of patients with connective tissue disease-related ILD reported significant workplace productivity loss unexplained by symptoms or lung physiology. Read more
Delay from symptom onset to IPF diagnosis often longer than 1 year
In the IPF-PRO Registry, 50% of patients had a delay of longer than 1 year between symptom onset and diagnosis of IPF. Read more
Nintedanib analyses support benefit in chronic fibrosing ILDs with progressive phenotype
New analyses of the INBUILD trial show nintedanib slowed lung function decline and reduced the annual rate of FVC decline in patients with a progressive form of chronic fibrosing ILDs, including in various subgroups. Read more