RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Epidemiological studies in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: pitfalls in methodologies and data interpretation
JF European Respiratory Review
JO EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 436
OP 444
DO 10.1183/16000617.0040-2015
VO 24
IS 137
A1 Antonella Caminati
A1 Fabiana Madotto
A1 Giancarlo Cesana
A1 Sara Conti
A1 Sergio Harari
YR 2015
UL http://err.ersjournals.com/content/24/137/436.abstract
AB Data on incidence, prevalence and mortality of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are sparse and vary across studies. The true incidence and prevalence of the disease are unknown. In general, the overall prevalence and incidence reported in European and Asian countries are lower than those reported in American studies. In recent years, the epidemiological approach to IPF has been difficult for many reasons. First, the diagnostic criteria of the disease have changed over time. Secondly, the coding system used for IPF in administrative databases, the most common data source used to study this aspect of the disease, has been modified in the past few years. Finally, the study design, the methodology and the population selected in each of the studies are very different. All these aspects make comparisons among studies very difficult or impossible. In this review, we list the main issues that might arise when comparing different studies and that should be taken into consideration when describing the state of epidemiological knowledge concerning this pathology.An accurate understanding of IPF epidemiology is important; comparisons of studies must consider their heterogeneity http://ow.ly/P5sZF