P98 The burden of comorbidity in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD): a prospective study in a regional ILD centre

<h3>Introduction</h3> The pathogenesis of fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) is poorly understood. We sought to understand whether there is an increased burden of comorbidities in patients diagnosed with fILD. <h3>Methods</h3> 102 patients with a diagnosis of fILD were recruited from outpatient clinics at a regional ILD centre between March 2022 and March 2023. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews and examination of medical records. Age and sex-matched controls were sourced from the Exeter 10,000 (EXTEND) cohort. Demographic and clinical characteristics are described in table 1. Odds ratios (OR) and Fischer’s exact test were used to compare the rates of each comorbidity in the fILD group with controls. The two-tailed paired t-test was used to assess the mean difference in number of prescribed medications between the two groups. <h3>Results</h3> There was an increased likelihood of a diagnosis of diabetes (OR 4.75, 95% CI 1.72 – 13.1 p=0.003), connective tissue disease (OR 16.5, 95% CI 2.14 – 127.4 p=0.007) and hypertension (OR 45.38, 95% CI 6.06 – 339.48, p&lt;0.0001) in the fILD group compared to controls. It was not possible to calculate OR for liver disease or chronic kidney disease (CKD) as these were not identified in the control population. Using Fischer’s exact test, there was an increased likelihood of CKD in the fILD population (p=0.029), but no increase in the likelihood of liver disease (p=0.12). There was no difference in the likelihood of a diagnosis of heart disease, encompassing coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and heart failure, (OR 1.58, 95% CI 0.77 –3.23 p=0.21) or cancer (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.41 – 1.57, p=0.52). The mean number of prescribed medications per individual was 5.45 in the fILD group compared to 3.06 in controls (mean difference 2.39, p&lt;0.0001). 36 patients and 9 controls were prescribed oral or inhaled corticosteroids. <h3>Conclusions</h3> In our cohort, fILD patients were more likely than age-matched controls to have diabetes, connective tissue disease, hypertension and CKD. fILD patients had a higher medication burden than age-matched controls. These preliminary data lead us to consider whether fILD co-exists as part of a wider, multisystem disorder in some patients.