Risk factors for diagnostic delay in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Surveys and retrospective studies of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have shown a significant diagnostic delay. However, the causes and risk factors for this delay are not known. METHODS:Dates at six time points before the IPF diagnosis (onset of symptoms, first contact to a general practitioner, first hospital contact, referral to an interstitial lung disease (ILD) centre, first visit at an ILD centre, and final diagnosis) were recorded in a multicentre cohort of 204 incident IPF patients. Based on these dates, the delay was divided into specific patient-related and healthcare-related delays. Demographic and clinical data were used to determine risk factors for a prolonged delay, using multivariate negative binomial regression analysis. RESULTS:The median diagnostic delay was 2.1?years (IQR: 0.9-5.0), mainly attributable to the patients, general practitioners and community hospitals. Male sex was a risk factor for patient delay (IRR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.17-11.36, p?=?0.006) and old age was a risk factor for healthcare delay (IRR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06, p?=?0.004). The total delay was prolonged in previous users of inhalation therapy (IRR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.40-2.88, p?

SUBMITTER: Hoyer N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6534848 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature