Analysis of comorbid conditions in 1210 IPF patients from the EMPIRE registry

Most patients with IPF have comorbidities, which affect functional status, quality of life and survival. Our study aims are to analyze comorbidities in a series of 1210 IPF patients from the EMPIRE registry (European Multipartner IPF registry). Comorbidities were noted in 85.6% (1036pts), one in 23.5%, 2 in 23.0% and 3 or more in 53.5%. Median age at diagnosis was 67.2 years (range 50.0-82.2). Male to female ratio 68.8%:31.2%. The most frequent were cardiovascular diseases 68.1% (824pts), significantly more than in general population (GP) of similar age. Most common comorbidities were arterial hypertension 52.2% (632pts), diabetes 20.7% (251pts), coronary disease 20.1% (243pts), hyperlipidaemia 18.0% (218pts), GERD 14.0% (169pts), osteoporosis 11.6% (135pts), arrhythmias 8.8% (106pts), prostatic hypertrophy 10.3% of males (86pts), thyroid diseases 6.1% (74pts), pulmonary hypertension 5.3% (64pts), COPD 5.2% (63pts), depression 4.4% (53pts), asthma 3.3% (40pts), nephropathy 2.6% (31pts) etc. Sleep breathing disorder was registered in 1.0% (12pts), lung cancer 0.4% (5pts) and tuberculosis in 1.4% (17pts). The prevalence of arterial hypertension, coronary disease, arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, thyroid diseases and lung cancer was much higher than in European GP, as well as tuberculosis, while the prevalence of COPD, sleep breathing disorder, asthma, nephropathy, hyperlipidaemia, prostatic hypertrophy and depression was strikingly lower than in GP. Surprisingly the frequency of GERD was within the range of GP. Conclusion: Management of IPF requires a comprehensive approach, which includes the identification and treatment of comorbid conditions to optimize patient outcomes.