A comprehensive evaluation of diagnostic patterns and comorbidities in a cohort of patients with diffuse lung disease

Background: Diffuse interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a heterogeneous group of pulmonary disorders with varied clinical, radiological, and histopathological presentations. This study aims to examine the demographic, clinical, radiological, and diagnostic characteristics of patients diagnosed with ILD. Methods: A total of 150 patients diagnosed with ILD were included in the study. Demographic data, clinical symptoms, and comorbidities were recorded. High-resolution CT (HRCT) thorax imaging was used to assess radiological abnormalities. The final diagnoses were based on clinical evaluation, imaging findings, and histopathological examination. Results: The study cohort consisted predominantly of males (59.3%) aged between 50-69 years. The most common clinical symptoms were exertional breathlessness and cough. Radiological findings on HRCT included ground glass opacities (52.5%), interlobular septal thickening (39.3%), and honeycombing (28.7%). A diffuse pattern of lung involvement was observed in the majority of patients. The most frequent ILD diagnosis was Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), followed by Non-IPF Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia and Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonia. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of careful clinical and radiological assessment in the diagnosis of ILD, which remains challenging due to the heterogeneity of the disease.