Assessing prognostic factors correlating with response to nintedanib for connective tissue disease‐associated interstitial lung disease: A real‐world single‐center study

Abstract

Objective For patients with connective tissue disease‐associated interstitial lung disease (CTD‐ILD), early medical intervention would be desirable. This study analyzed the real‐world, single‐center use of nintedanib for CTD‐ILD patients. Methods Patients with CTD who received nintedanib from January 2020 to July 2022 were enrolled. Medical records review and stratified analyses of the collected data were conducted. Results Reduction in the percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (%FVC) was seen in the elderly group (>70 years; P = .210), males (P = .027), the late group who started nintedanib >80 months after confirmation of an ILD disease activity (P = .03), the severe %DLco (diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide as a percentage of predicted) group (<40%; P = .20), the group who had extensive pulmonary fibrosis at the beginning of nintedanib (pulmonary fibrosis score >35%), and the low‐dose group (nintedanib 50‐100 mg/d; P = .40). %FVC did not decrease by >5% in the young group (<55 years), the early group who started nintedanib within 10 months after confirmation of an ILD disease activity, and the group whose pulmonary fibrosis score at the beginning of nintedanib was <35%. Conclusion It is important to diagnose ILD early and start antifibrotic drugs with proper timing for cases in need. It is better to start nintedanib early, especially for patients at risk (>70 years old, male, <40% DLco, and >35% areas of pulmonary fibrosis).