Abstract
Introduction
Although the population was aging, interstitial lung disease mortality had remained relatively stable until it rose following the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Despite the consistent overall mortality trend prior to the pandemic, significant demographic and geographic disparities persist across the country.
Methods
Disparities in ILD-related mortality were analyzed temporally using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research (CDC WONDER) database. Using ICD Codes J84.1, J84.8, and J84.9 ILD-related crude mortality (CMR) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were calculated, and the Join-point Regression Program was used to determine mortality trends between 1999 and 2022. ILD-related mortality was identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, and clinical modification codes J84.1 (Other interstitial pulmonary diseases with fibrosis), J84.8 (Other specified interstitial pulmonary diseases), and J84.9 (Interstitial pulmonary disease, unspecified) were used in patients ≥ 45 years.
Results
Based on the results of this study, there have been 609,157 deaths due to ILD during this study period, with the highest mortality rates seen in the Non-Hispanic (NH) American Indian or Alaskan Native population, and the lowest mortality rates seen in the NH African American population. Hispanic or Latinos and NH Whites experienced similar mortality. Males had higher mortality rates than females in all racial groups. Regarding region, the Northeast had significantly lower mortality rates than all other census areas throughout the entire study period. The results of this study demonstrate large increases in AAMR at the onset of COVID-19 beginning in 2020, peaking in 2021, and decreasing in 2022.
Conclusions
The COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges to our society, especially for patients with interstitial lung disease. While further research is needed to better understand these trends, it is concerning that ILD-related mortality increased throughout the study period. Medical professionals should be cognizant of these trends when treating patients diagnosed with ILD.