Incidence of Interstitial Lung Disease in Denmark (1995–2005)
Author Information
Author(s): Kornum Jette B, Christensen Steffen, Grijota Miriam, Pedersen Lars, Wogelius Pia, Beiderbeck Annette, Sørensen Henrik Toft
Primary Institution: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Aalborg, Denmark
Hypothesis
What are the incidence rates of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) in Denmark and how have they changed between 1995 and 2005?
Conclusion
The incidence rate of ILD in Denmark increased during the study period, most pronounced for ILDs associated with systemic diseases.
Supporting Evidence
- Between 1995 and 1998, the overall standardised incidence rate of ILD decreased from 27.14 to 19.36 per 100,000 person-years.
- After 1998, the incidence rate increased considerably, peaking at 34.34 per 100,000 person-years in 2002.
- The highest incidence rate was observed in the non-specific category 'Respiratory disorders in diseases classified elsewhere'.
- The age-standardised incidence rates of ILDs were approximately 50% higher in males than in females throughout the study period.
- The overall incidence rate of ILD increased by 33% between 1995–2000 and 2001–2005.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many people got interstitial lung disease in Denmark over ten years, and found that more people were diagnosed as time went on.
Methodology
The study identified all patients with a first-time hospital discharge or outpatient diagnosis of ILD from the Danish National Registry of Patients.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of diagnostic bias due to the reliance on hospital records and coding practices.
Limitations
The study may have missed patients seen only by primary care physicians, potentially underestimating the true incidence.
Participant Demographics
The study included 12,639 men (58%) and 9,126 women (42%), with a median age of 63 years for men and 64 years for women.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI 25.82–28.46
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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