Pulmonary fibrosis is a most common lung disease as 32,500 individuals in the United Kingdom have been diagnosed with it. It usually causes difficulty in breathing because of scarred and damaged lungs. Researchers from the University of East Anglia recently conducted a study to find out factors that increase the risk of death in people with pulmonary fibrosis. They found that people with pulmonary fibrosis who belong to wealthy areas do not have a higher risk of death. Â
In this study, researchers used data of 2,359 patients from the British Thoracic Society Interstitial Lung Diseases Registry between 2013 and 2021. Researchers calculated deprivation scores, the time period between initial symptoms and hospital attendance and the linear distance between hospitals and homes of these patients. Â
When researchers observed the collected data, they found that the risk of death was 36% higher in patients from poorer areas as compared to those from wealthier areas. When researchers considered other factors such as their age, smoking habits and distance to hospital, they found the risk of death remained high as it was 39%. They also found that people who live far away from a respiratory hospital also had a higher risk of death as compared to people who live nearby and it was 34% and 29% respectively. It clearly shows that the distance between home and respiratory hospital also can affect the survival rate. Â
The study also shows that early detection and treatment are very important as 40% of patients who had symptoms waited for over two years before taking medical help. The risk of death can be reduced by spreading awareness of pulmonary fibrosis in primary care settings and improving access to medical care closer to home. Â
 Healthcare professionals should make some effective strategies to provide the same good medical care to people with pulmonary fibrosis no matter where they live. As the results show that the risk of death for people with this disease is higher, there is a need for further research to know more about other factors that can affect it. Â
Reference Link:Â Â
Rashmi Shankar et al, Assessment of the impact of social deprivation, distance to hospital and time to diagnosis on survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Respiratory Medicine (2024). Â
