Prevalence of Interstitial Lung Disease presented to Pulmonology department at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar; Unrevealing the Burden

Abstract

Background: Interstitial lung disease is a disabling pulmonary morbidity that results in irreversible damage to the lung parenchyma, leading to eventual dependence. This condition has a wide variety of subtypes, with their prevalence varying across different geographical regions of the world. Objective: To determine the prevalence of interstitial lung disease and its subtypes in patients presenting at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Methodology: This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Pulmonology Department, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from January to December 2023, in which 303 patients were screened for the presence of interstitial lung disease through a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan of the chest. Detailed history records and a comprehensive HRCT report by the radiologist were obtained and retrieved to determine sub-types. The data was analyzed by SPSS 20.00. Results: In this study, a total of 303 patients were included, with a mean age of 50.08 ± 7.56 years. There were 128 (42.24%) male and 175 (57.76%) female patients. All patients had complaints of coughing. The prevalence of interstitial lung disease was 136 (44.88%), with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis being the most common subtype with a prevalence of 37 (27.21%), followed by “cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP)†(21 (15.44%), “hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HSP)" (20 (14.71%), sarcoidosis (19 (13.97%), “non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP)†(14 (10.29%), “pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP)†(9.56%), and “connective tissue disease-related ILD†12 (8.82%). Conclusion: The prevalence of interstitial lung disease was 44.88%, with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis being the most common subtype.