1 research outputs found
Reticulation is a Risk Factor of Progressive Subpleural non-Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Abnormalities
Rationale: Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) are being increasingly identified in clinical
practice. In particular for subpleural non-fibrotic ILAs, the risk of progression over time and
the risk factors for progressive behavior are still largely unknown.
Objectives: To determine the age band prevalence of ILAs and the risk of radiological
progression of subpleural non-fibrotic ILAs over time in a large health check-up population,
and to identify how reticulation contributes to the risk of radiological progression.
Methods: Based on ILAs definition by the Fleischner Society, low-dose chest CT images from
community-dwelling population undergone health check-up were evaluated for ILAs.
Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the risk of radiological progression.
Measurements and Main Results: Among 155,539 individuals, 3,300 (2.1%) were confirmed
to have ILAs: the vast majority (81.7%) were defined as subpleural non-fibrotic ILAs. The
prevalence of ILAs increased linearly with age (P for trend<0.0001). Of 454 individuals with
subpleural non-fibrotic ILAs, 198 (43.6%) had radiological progression over 4 years. The
presence of reticulation on initial imaging was an independent predictor of radiological
progression (OR 1.9; 95%CI 1.2-3.0, P=0.0040). No difference in radiological progression was
identified between subpleural non-fibrotic ILAs with extensive reticulation and subpleural
fibrotic ILAs (73.0% vs. 68.8%, P=0.7626).
Conclusions: The prevalence of ILAs increases linearly with age. Nearly half of subpleural
non-fibrotic ILAs progress radiologically over 4 years. The presence of reticulation is a risk
factor for radiological progression. Subpleural non-fibrotic ILAs with extensive reticulation
are likely to be a feature of subpleural fibrotic ILAs