Elderly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients remain on therapy despite higher incidence of adverse events and dose reductions

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) predominantly affects people over the age of 60 years and its incidence increases with age. Limited data is available on the use of antifibrotics in the elderly IPF population. We aimed to examine the tolerability and safety of antifibrotics (pirfenidone, nintedanib) in elderly patients with IPF in a real-world setting. Methods: Medical records of 284 elderly (≥75 years) and 446 non-elderly IPF patients (<75 years) were retrospectively analyzed in this multi-center study. Patient characteristics, treatments, adverse events (AEs), tolerability, hospitalizations, exacerbations, and mortality were compared between the elderly and non-elderly group. Results: In the elderly group, the mean age was 79 years and the mean antifibrotic treatment duration was 26.1 months. The most commonly reported AEs were weight loss, loss of appetite and nausea. Elderly IPF patients had a significantly higher incidence of AEs (62.9% vs. 55.1%, p = 0.039) and dose reductions (27.4% vs. 18.1%, p = 0.003) than the non-elderly did, but the rate of discontinuation of antifibrotics was not different between groups (13% vs. 10.8%, p = 0.352). In addition, the severity of the disease, frequency of hospitalizations, exacerbations, and mortality rates were higher in elderly patients. Conclusion: The present study showed that elderly IPF patients experienced significantly increased AEs and dose reductions due to antifibrotic use, while the discontinuation rates of the drugs were similar to those of drugs used by non-elderly patients

Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with IPF: A multi-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: : There are few data on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19) infection in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics and outcomes of IPF patients confirmed COVID-19 infection. METHODS: : In this retrospective, multi-center, cohort study, patients from 4 hospital medical records with known IPF and a COVID-19 diagnosis were identified. Demographic and clinical outcome data were abstracted through a review of electronic medical records. RESULTS: : Records for 46 patients with IPF and COVID-19 were abstracted. The mean age was 65±10 years. The most common symptom was dyspnea, followed by fever and cough. Ground-glass opacities (n=35, 83.3%) and consolidations (n=11, 26.1%) were the main imaging features of the disease in thorax computed tomography (CT). Twenty-four patients (52.1%) required hospitalization. Among the hospitalized patients, 16 (66.6%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and 10 (41.6%) underwent invasive mechanical ventilation. Thirteen patients (28.2%) died of COVID-19 complications. Mortality rate was significantly associated with lower DLCO/VA, long term oxygen therapy and consolidation finding on CT of thorax (p<0.05). On multivariable analysis, neither factor was associated with hospitalization or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: : IPF patients represent a vulnerable population for COVID-19, according to the high rate of hospitalization, ICU requirement and mortality rate. Measures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection remain key to protect IPF patients

Lung cancer from suspicion to treatment: An indicator of healthcare access in Turkey

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Before beginning lung cancer treatment, it is necessary to complete procedures such as suspecting lung cancer, obtaining a pathologic diagnosis, and staging. This study aimed to investigate the processes from suspicion of lung cancer to diagnosis, staging, and treatment initiation. Methods: The study was designed as a multicenter and cross-sectional study. Patients with lung cancer from various health institutions located in all geographic regions of Turkey were included in the study. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, the characteristics of the health institutions and geographic regions, and other variables of the lung cancer process were recorded. The time from suspicion of lung cancer to pathologic diagnosis, radiologic staging, and treatment initiation, as well as influencing factors, were investigated. Results: The study included 1410 patients from 29 different medical centers. The mean time from the initial suspicion of lung cancer to the pathologic diagnosis was 48.0 ± 52.6 days, 39.0 ± 52.7 days for radiologic staging, and 74.9 ± 65.5 days for treatment initiation. The residential areas with the most suspected lung cancer cases were highly developed socioeconomic zones. Primary healthcare services accounted for only 0.4% of patients with suspected lung cancer. The time to pathologic diagnosis was longer in the Marmara region, and the wait time for staging and treatment initiation was longer in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. Patients who presented to chest disease referral hospitals with peripheral lesions, those with early-stage disease, and those who were diagnosed surgically had significantly longer wait times. Conclusion: The time between pathologic diagnosis, staging, and treatment initiation in lung cancer was longer than expected. Increasing the role of primary healthcare services and distributing socioeconomic resources more equally will contribute to shortening the time to diagnosis and improve treatment processes for lung cancer

COVID-19 in hospitalized infants aged under 3 months: multi-center experiences across Turkey

To investigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in infants aged 0 to 3 months because there is currently a significant gap in the literature on the subject. A cross-sectional study was conducted with the involvement of 19 medical centers across Turkey and 570 infants. The majority of the patients were male (58.2%), and the three most common symptoms were fever (78.2%), cough (44.6%), and feeding intolerance (39.9%). The results showed that a small percentage of infants had positive blood (0.9%) or urine cultures (10.2%). Most infants presented with fever (78.2%). Children without underlying conditions (UCs) had mostly a complicated respiratory course and a normal chest radiography. Significant more positive urine culture rates were observed in infants with fever. A higher incidence of respiratory support requirements and abnormal chest findings were seen in infants with chronic conditions. These infants also had a longer hospital stay than those without chronic conditions. Conclusions: Our study discloses the clinical observations and accompanying bacterial infections found in infants aged under 3 months with COVID-19. These findings can shed light on COVID-19 in infancy for physicians because there is limited clinical evidence available. What is Known: • COVID-19 in infants and older children has been seen more mildly than in adults. • The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in infants are fever and cough, as in older children and adults. COVID-19 should be one of the differential diagnoses in infants with fever. What is New: • Although most infants under three months had fever, the clinical course was uneventful and respiratory complications were rarely observed in healthy children. • Infants with underlying conditions had more frequent respiratory support and abnormal chest radiography and stayed longer in the hospital

Türkiye'deki romatoid artritli hastaların özellikleri: Türkiye romatizma araştırma ve savaş derneği romatoid artrit kayıt sistemi sonuçları

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı Türkiye’deki romatoid artrit hastalarının demografik ve klinik özelliklerini ortaya koyarak bu hastalar için oluşturulabilecek önlem, tedavi ve destek stratejilerine ışık tutmaktır. Hastalar ve yöntemler: Bu çalışma kapsamında Eylül 2007 - Mart 2011 tarihleri arasında Türkiye’nin farklı bölgelerindeki toplam 36 merkezden Türkiye Romatizma Araştırma ve Savaş Derneği (TRASD) kayıt sistemine kaydedilen 2.359 hasta (1.966 kadın, 393 erkek; ort. yaş 51.6±12.5 yıl; dağılım 18-75 yıl) değerlendirildi. Hastaların demografik ve klinik verileri kaydedildi. Hastalık aktivitesi, fonksiyonel durum ve radyografik hasar sırasıyla hastalık aktivite skoru 28, sağlık değerlendirme anketi ve van der Heijde modifiye Sharp puanlama yöntemi ile ölçüldü. Bulgular: Akademik eğitim süresi ortalama 5.2±3.8 yıldı ve hastaların %74.6’sı ev hanımıydı. Hastaların %91.0’ı biyolojik olmayan hastalık modifiye edici ilaçlar, %10.2’si biyolojik hastalık modifiye edici ilaçlar kullanıyordu. Ortalama hastalık aktivite skoru 28, sağlık değerlendirme anketi ve Sharp puanları sırasıyla, 4.0±1.4, 0.38±0.37 ve 31.2±57.1 idi. Hastaların %17.8’i remisyonda ve %14.1’i düşük hastalık aktivitesinde iken %42.7’si orta hastalık aktivitesinde ve %25.5’i yüksek hastalık aktivitesinde idi. Sonuç: Türkiye’de romatoid artrit hastalarının çoğunluğu orta yaşlı ev hanımlarıdır. Her ne kadar hastalık modifiye edici ilaç kullanımı yüksek oranda ise de hastaların büyük bölümü orta ve yüksek hastalık aktivite düzeyinde idi. Bu bulgular romatoid artritli hastaların tedavi gereksinimlerinin yeterli olarak karşılanmadığını düşündürmektedir.Objectives: This study investigates the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Turkey, and attempts to identify strategies for the prevention, treatment, and support of RA. Patients and methods: A total of 2,359 patients (1,966 females, 393 males; mean age 51.6±12.5 years; range 18 to 75 years) with RA from 36 centers across Turkey, who were recorded in the Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) RA Registry between September 2007 and March 2011, were evaluated. Patients’demographic and clinical data were recorded. Disease activity, functional status, and radiographic damage were measured using the Disease Activity Score 28, the Health Assessment Questionnaire, and van der Heijde modified Sharp scoring method. Results: The mean duration of academic education received was 5.2±3.8 years, and 74.6% of the patients were homemakers. Non-biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were used by 91.0% of the patients, while 10.2% used biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. The mean Disease Activity Score 28, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and Sharp scores were 4.0±1.4, 0.38±0.37, and 31.2±57.1, respectively. Of the patients, 17.8% were in remission and 14.1% had low disease activity rates, while 42.7% and 25.5% had moderate and high disease activity rates. Conclusion: The majority of patients with RA in Turkey are middle-aged homemakers. Despite the high rates of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs use, the majority of patients had moderate and high disease activity. These findings indicate that treatment needs of RA patients are not met sufficiently

Türkiye'deki romatoid artritli hastaların özellikleri: Türkiye romatizma araştırma ve savaş derneği romatoid artrit kayıt sistemi sonuçları

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı Türkiye’deki romatoid artrit hastalarının demografik ve klinik özelliklerini ortaya koyarak bu hastalar için oluşturulabilecek önlem, tedavi ve destek stratejilerine ışık tutmaktır. Hastalar ve yöntemler: Bu çalışma kapsamında Eylül 2007 - Mart 2011 tarihleri arasında Türkiye’nin farklı bölgelerindeki toplam 36 merkezden Türkiye Romatizma Araştırma ve Savaş Derneği (TRASD) kayıt sistemine kaydedilen 2.359 hasta (1.966 kadın, 393 erkek; ort. yaş 51.6±12.5 yıl; dağılım 18-75 yıl) değerlendirildi. Hastaların demografik ve klinik verileri kaydedildi. Hastalık aktivitesi, fonksiyonel durum ve radyografik hasar sırasıyla hastalık aktivite skoru 28, sağlık değerlendirme anketi ve van der Heijde modifiye Sharp puanlama yöntemi ile ölçüldü. Bulgular: Akademik eğitim süresi ortalama 5.2±3.8 yıldı ve hastaların %74.6’sı ev hanımıydı. Hastaların %91.0’ı biyolojik olmayan hastalık modifiye edici ilaçlar, %10.2’si biyolojik hastalık modifiye edici ilaçlar kullanıyordu. Ortalama hastalık aktivite skoru 28, sağlık değerlendirme anketi ve Sharp puanları sırasıyla, 4.0±1.4, 0.38±0.37 ve 31.2±57.1 idi. Hastaların %17.8’i remisyonda ve %14.1’i düşük hastalık aktivitesinde iken %42.7’si orta hastalık aktivitesinde ve %25.5’i yüksek hastalık aktivitesinde idi. Sonuç: Türkiye’de romatoid artrit hastalarının çoğunluğu orta yaşlı ev hanımlarıdır. Her ne kadar hastalık modifiye edici ilaç kullanımı yüksek oranda ise de hastaların büyük bölümü orta ve yüksek hastalık aktivite düzeyinde idi. Bu bulgular romatoid artritli hastaların tedavi gereksinimlerinin yeterli olarak karşılanmadığını düşündürmektedir.Objectives: This study investigates the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Turkey, and attempts to identify strategies for the prevention, treatment, and support of RA. Patients and methods: A total of 2,359 patients (1,966 females, 393 males; mean age 51.6±12.5 years; range 18 to 75 years) with RA from 36 centers across Turkey, who were recorded in the Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) RA Registry between September 2007 and March 2011, were evaluated. Patients’demographic and clinical data were recorded. Disease activity, functional status, and radiographic damage were measured using the Disease Activity Score 28, the Health Assessment Questionnaire, and van der Heijde modified Sharp scoring method. Results: The mean duration of academic education received was 5.2±3.8 years, and 74.6% of the patients were homemakers. Non-biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were used by 91.0% of the patients, while 10.2% used biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. The mean Disease Activity Score 28, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and Sharp scores were 4.0±1.4, 0.38±0.37, and 31.2±57.1, respectively. Of the patients, 17.8% were in remission and 14.1% had low disease activity rates, while 42.7% and 25.5% had moderate and high disease activity rates. Conclusion: The majority of patients with RA in Turkey are middle-aged homemakers. Despite the high rates of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs use, the majority of patients had moderate and high disease activity. These findings indicate that treatment needs of RA patients are not met sufficiently