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Mortality

High Ferritin Predicts Mortality in Patients with Interstitial Pneumonia and Autoimmune Disease

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Recent research findings from Autonoma University in Madrid, Spain, suggest that high levels of ferritin can predict mortality in patients with interstitial pneumonia and an underlying autoimmune disease. The study included 124 patients, with a follow-up period of at least two years or a fatal outcome. The analysis revealed that older age at diagnosis, cardio-respiratory comorbidities, and the simultaneous onset of interstitial pneumonia and systemic manifestations were associated with an increased risk of death. In contrast, clinical diagnosis and radiographic patterns did not show a significant association with mortality risk. Elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase, sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and ferritin were significantly linked to fatal outcomes, with ferritin emerging as the most potent predictor in the multivariate model.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 124 patients with autoimmune interstitial pneumonia, with a follow-up period of at least two years or a fatal outcome.
  • Older age at diagnosis, cardio-respiratory comorbidities, and the simultaneous onset of interstitial pneumonia and systemic manifestations were associated with an increased risk of death.
  • Elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase, sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and ferritin were significantly linked to fatal outcomes.
  • Ferritin emerged as the most potent predictor of mortality in the multivariate model, with an odds ratio of 5.9 (p = 0.002).
  • The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring inflammatory markers, particularly ferritin levels, to assess prognosis across various subtypes of autoimmune interstitial pneumonia.
  • Clinical diagnosis and radiographic patterns did not show a significant association with mortality risk.
  • The study included patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial pneumonia, interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features, and undifferentiated autoimmune IP.

Statistics:

  • The incidence rate of death in the study cohort was 3.09 per 100 patient-years.
  • The study included 29 deaths out of 124 patients, resulting in a mortality rate of 23.4%.
  • The odds ratio for ferritin as a predictor of mortality was 5.9 (p = 0.002).
  • The study found significant associations between elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase, sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and ferritin with fatal outcomes.
  • The study had a minimum follow-up period of 2 years or a fatal outcome for all patients.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Recent Findings from Autonoma University Provide New Insights into Interstitial Lung Disease (High Ferritin Predicts Mortality in Patients With Interstitial Pneumonia and an Underlying Autoimmune Disease). Respiratory Therapeutics Week. October 20, 2025; p 3865.
  • High Ferritin Predicts Mortality in Patients With Interstitial Pneumonia and an Underlying Autoimmune Disease. Open Respiratory Archives, 2025;7(3):100455.

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