A systematic review of the incidence, risk factors and prognosis of acute exacerbation of systemic autoimmune disease-associated interstitial lung disease

INTRODUCTION: Acute exacerbation (AE) is a devastating phenomenon and reported to be complicated with systemic autoimmune disease-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD). The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and prognosis of AE of systemic autoimmune disease-ILD and clarify relevant clinical information predictive of these outcomes. METHOD: This study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis. A primary study except for a case report, which reported the incidence and/or prognosis of AE of systemic autoimmune disease-ILD, was eligible for the review. Electronic databases such as Medline and EMBASE were searched from 2002 through 23 February 2020. Two reviewers independently selected eligible reports and extracted relevant data. Risk of bias of individual studies was assessed similarly. The incidence and prognosis of the disease were analysed qualitatively. Univariate results of risk and prognostic factors were combined if feasible. RESULTS: Out of a total of 2662 records, 24 studies were eligible. A total of 420 subjects with 45.7% of men developed AE of systemic autoimmune disease-ILD and the two major underlying systemic autoimmune diseases were rheumatoid arthritis (34.2%) and polymyositis/dermatomyositis (31.9%). The frequency ranged from 4.3 to 32.9% with the incident rate being 3.19 and 5.77 per 100 patient-years and all-cause mortality was between 30.0 and 58.3% at 90 days. Age at initial presentation was significantly associated with the development of AE of systemic autoimmune disease-ILD with an HR of 1.22 (95%CI 1.05–1.50) while a percentage of predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (%DLCO) was also significantly associated with the development of the disease with an HR of 0.95 (95%CI 0.90–1.00) and an OR of 0.97 (95%CI 0.95–0.99). Partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (PaO(2)/FiO(2)) at AE was significantly associated with all-cause mortality of AE of systemic autoimmune disease-ILD with an HR of 0.99 (95%CI 0.98–0.99). CONCLUSION: AE of systemic autoimmune disease-ILD was not uncommon and demonstrated dismal prognosis. Age at initial presentation and %DLCO were deemed as risk factors while PaO(2)/FiO(2) at AE was considered as a prognostic factor of the disease. Registration CRD42019138941. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-021-01502-w.