An international multicenter study was conducted to assess the outcomes in patients with a prior diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) admitted to a hospital for COVID-19 vs. patients without ILD. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most severe and most common ILD. Data from 349 patients with ILD across Europe were included in the study. Of whom, 161 were admitted to hospital with laboratory or clinical evidence of COVID-19.
According to the study, “…patients with ILD, particularly those with fibrotic ILD, are at higher risk of mortality from COVID-19 than patients without ILD. Furthermore, the risk is heightened in elderly males, those with obesity or poor lung function, and we would recommend dietary advice in overweight patients.”
Investigators recommend that “patients with ILD, particularly severe fibrotic ILD, continue to be regarded as high risk of mortality from COVID-19 and follow national self-isolation guidelines for vulnerable individuals and be prioritized for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at such time as it becomes available.”
Overall mortality was 49% in patients with ILD and COVID-19. The authors recommend that stringent precautions be taken to avoid COVID-19 in patients with ILD.