HOSPITAL stays lead to worsening fatigue and shortness of breath in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) according to a new study presented at the CHEST 2024 Annual Meeting.
The new research presented at has shed light on the detrimental effects of hospitalization in patients with IPF. The analysis used from data in the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) registry and revealed objective declines in quality of life following hospitalizations, using validated questionnaires including the Fatigue Severity Score (FSS) and the UCSD Shortness of Breath Questionnaire.
The study analyzed 123 patients with IPF who had hospitalizations, comparing their symptoms before and after the event. Findings show a significant increase in fatigue (FSS: 4.3 pre-hospitalization vs 4.8 post-hospitalization) and worsening shortness of breath (UCSD: 43.9 pre-hospitalization vs 49.2 post-hospitalization). The effects were more severe in patients with longer hospital stays (≥5 days), with pronounced declines in both fatigue and breathlessness scores.
Respiratory-related hospitalizations also had a notable impact, further worsening patients’ breathlessness (UCSD: 49.7 pre-hospitalization vs 55.4 post-hospitalization). However, cough scores remained relatively stable throughout.
Christopher King, lead researcher, transplant pulmonologist, and Chief of Cardiovascular Critical Care at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Annandale, Virginia, highlighted the consistent trend of reduced quality of life following hospital stays but emphasized the need for further research to explore whether pulmonary function tests correlate with these findings. He also highlighted the importance of investigating inpatient interventions like palliative care or rehabilitation to mitigate the impact on patient outcomes.
Reference: King CS et al. Impact of hospitalizations on patient-reported outcomes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients: An analysis of the PFF registry. CHEST. 2024;166(4):A3300-A3302.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
