Current status of childhood interstitial lung disease in Turkiye: 5-year data from ChILD-TR
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction Childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD) encompasses various diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs) in children. We aimed to assess the current status and temporal changes of chILD in Türkiye using updated data from the chILD-Türkiye (chILD-TR) registry.Method By May 2025, all patients registered in the chILD-TR were included in the study. Patients with missing data were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups: disorders primarily appearing in infancy (DPLD-A) and disorders that can occur at any age (DPLD-B). Clinical and demographic data were compared between the groups.Results 711 patients (44.7% female) were included. The registry-based prevalence estimate of chILD in Türkiye was approximately 30–35 cases per million children. The current age was 135 (16-383) months. The time from first symptoms to admission was 3 (0–217) months. Age at diagnosis was 59 (11-273) months. Common symptoms were cough (59.5%) and dyspnoea (35.4%). 136 patients (19.1%) required oxygen. 25 patients (3.5%) died. Among patients, 126 (17.7%) had DPLD-A, 549 (77.2%) had DPLD-B and 36 (5.1%) had uncategorised disorders. The DPLD-A group was younger and had earlier symptom onset and older diagnosis age (p<0.05). Growth z-scores were lower in the DPLD-A group (p<0.05). Parental consanguinity and mechanical ventilation use were higher in the DPLD-A group (p<0.05). No differences in spirometry and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide were found between DPLD-A and DPLD-B (p>0.05). Chest CT features varied: rates of ground-glass opacity and pectus excavatum were higher in the DPLD-A group, whereas nodules, peribronchial thickening, mosaic perfusion and bronchiectasis were more predominant in the DPLD-B group (p<0.05).Conclusion This study shows that children with DPLD-A are diagnosed later despite earlier symptoms and growth issues, revealing a recognition gap and highlighting the need for early genetic screening and support. In DPLD-B, airway findings emphasise the need for long-term monitoring. These insights support phenotype-based diagnosis and treatment to improve outcomes in children with chILD.
Source: BMJ Open Respiratory Research
Authors: Handan Kekeç, Ayse Tana Aslan, Tugba Sismanlar Eyuboglu, Tuğçe Ünlü, Sinem Can Oksay, Yasemin Mocan Çağlar, Özge Ülgen, Fatma Nur Ayman, Fatih Ercan, Gökçen Ünal, Çiğdem Korkmaz, Azer Kılıç Başkan, Abdulhamit Çollak, Ugur Ozcelik, Deniz Dogru, Raziye Atan, Figen Gülen, Bahar Girgin Dindar, Ece Halis, Esin Gizem Olgun, Fazılcan Zirek, Suat Fitöz, Meltem Kürtül Çakar, Sanem Eryilmaz Polat, Dilber Ademhan Tural, Ayşen Bingöl, Abdurrahman Erdem Başaran, Betül Bankoğlu Parlak, Ela Erdem Eralp, Bulent Karadag, Pınar Ergenekon, Mehmet Köse, Ali Ersoy, Melih Hangül, Pelin Asfuroğlu, Erkan Cakir, Hakan Yazan, Beste Ozesen, Erdem Gönüllü, Zeynep Seda Uyan, Ece Ocak, Aslı İmran Yılmaz, Cansu Yılmaz Yegit, Halime Nayır Büyükşahin, Gökçen Kartal Öztürk, Mahir Serbes, Tugba Ramasli Gursoy, Mina Gharibzadeh Hizal, Gözde Cavıldak Karaaslan, Gizem Özcan, Ali Özdemir, Sevgi Pekcan, Ayşe Ayzıt Kılınç Sakallı, Yasemin Gökdemir, Güzin Cinel, Nazan Cobanoglu, Saniye Girit, Nagehan Emiralioğlu, Ebru Yalcin, Berna Oğuz, Diclehan Orhan, Ahmet Cevdet Ceylan, Nural Kiper
Institutions: Gazi University, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Necmettin Erbakan University, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul University, Hacettepe University, Ege University, Ankara University, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Akdeniz University, Marmara University, Erciyes University, Istinye University, Istanbul Medipol University, Dokuz Eylül University, Koç University, İzmir Şehir Hastanesi, Konya City Hospital, İstanbul Başakşehir Çam ve Sakura Şehir Hastanesi, Dr. Behçet Uz Çocuk Hastalıkları Hastanesi, Cukurova University, Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,085
OpenAlex ID: W7225118973