Identification of ILDs can be challenging, but your vigilance can make a difference2

55% icon

55% of patients with ILD
had 1 misdiagnosis

2 or more years icon

It can take 2 or more
years to diagnose

3 doctors icon

Diagnosis sometimes requires 3 or
more different doctors

Presenting interstitial lung disease (ILD) symptoms, such as cough, dyspnea, and fatigue, can be nonspecific and can be mistaken for more common diseases, including COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and CHF.2-4

Overlapping symptoms5-9

overlapping symptoms chart overlapping symptoms chart

A multidisciplinary team approach is regarded as the standard for diagnosing ILD10

5 person multidisciplinary team graphic 5 person multidisciplinary team graphic

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS PLAY A VITAL ROLE BY BEING
THE FIRST TO SOUND THE ILD ALARM

Multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) enables integration of all available information and can lead to a quicker, more confident ILD diagnosis. Limited access to MDD can result in significant delays in diagnosis, meaning patients may wait longer to receive appropriate treatment.10,11

Collaborative care does not have to be formal or done in person. An MDD between HCP can be carried out in multiple ways, including phone calls, emails, text messaging, formal meetings, or electronic health records.

Once you suspect ILD, refer patients to a lung
specialist with expertise to evaluate
them further

ILD patient 4

It took years to get to the bottom of my symptoms. I met with a pulmonologist, who performed numerous tests. He made sure to account for everything he could - he factored in my PFT results and HRCT's, which showed honeycomb scarring of my lungs...he was relentless, and that's exactly the kind of care I needed.
-Charles, living with SSc-ILD

ILD patient 5

One day I walked into his office, he asked, "How long have you been short of breath?" I hadn't even noticed it—but I did notice that he looked frightened when he asked me. He told me the shortness of breath meant I was compensating for something and sent me for a pulmonary function test and some CT scans. The results were shocking: I'd lost 52% of my lung function.
-Dale, living with myositis-related ILD

ILD patient 6

I was treated with over-the-counter meds for a cough and sent on my way. Months passed. Actually, I'd gotten used to the coughing. It was the type of cough that would grab me by the throat and squeeze until I couldn't get the air in or the words out. My pulmonologist ordered a high-resolution CT scan...it would be the CT scan that would offer a diagnosis.
-Kay, living with IPF

question mark graphic Recognize signs of ILD
stethoscope and person graphic Learn about reviewing tests and scans
book graphic View resources

CHF, congestive heart failure; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CT, computed tomography; HRCT, high-resolution computed tomography; PFT, pulmonary function test; SSc-ILD, systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.

References

  1. Cottin V et al. Eur Respir Rev. 2018;27(150):180076.
  2. Cosgrove GP et al. BMC Pulm Med. 2018;18(1):9.
  3. Ryu JH et al. Mayo Clinic Proc. 2007;82(8):976-986.
  4. Zibrak JD, Price D. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2014;24:14054.
  5. Johnson M et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2016;64(1):73-80.
  6. Theander K et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2014;4(9):785-794.
  7. Kraman SS. Arch Intern Med. 1986;146(7):1411-1412.
  8. Raghu G et al; on behalf of the ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT Committee on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018;198(5):e44-e68.
  9. Niimi A. Curr Res Med Rev. 2011;7(1):47-54.
  10. Walsh SLF et al. Lancet Respir Med. 2016;4(7):557-565.
  11. Grewal JS et al. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2019;16(4):455-462.