The Spanish Society of Rheumatology is currently conducting a research study to explore the prevalence and early detection methods of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fifteen Spanish rheumatology departments will work on the study together with the radiology departments in 2024 and 2025.
This collaboration will address an important healthcare issue: the early detection of ILDs, which tend to go undetected until later stages. This, in turn, negatively impacts patient outcomes, particularly when a patient suffers from cardiovascular diseases.
It is assumed that approximately 30% of RA patients may develop diffuse ILDs, underscoring the need for effective screening criteria. To achieve this goal, the research team has outlined specific criteria for participant selection, and the study aims to recruit over 450 patients across 15 hospital centers. The study results will hopefully help define strategies for early detection of ILD in patients with RA.
contextflow ADVANCE Chest CT will deliver automatic quantification regarding the extent of ILD in the study population, enabling detailed examination of the lung parenchyma. Furthermore, the study will compare the interstitial involvement of the lung parenchyma in chest CTs assessed by radiologists and compare them to the results from the automatic detection of ILD-associated patterns by contextflow’s AI software.
While specific lung patterns under assessment remain unclear, the integration of AI-driven analysis promises to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency.
This collaborative effort aims to improve early detection and management of ILDs in RA patients, potentially leading to better outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals.