title: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) incidence and prevalence in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) epidemiology show regional variations of incidence and prevalence; no epidemiological studies have been carried out in Italy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine incidence and prevalence rates of IPF in the population of a large Italian region.
  
  
  METHODS
  in this cross-sectional study study data were collected on all patients of 18 years of age and older admitted as primary or secondary idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis (ICD9-CM 516.3) to Lazio hospitals, from 1/1/2005 to 31/12/2009, using regional hospital discharge, population and cause of death databases. Reporting accuracy was assessed on a random sample of hospital charts carrying the ICD9-CM 516.3, 516.8, 516.9 and 515 codes, by reviewing radiology and pathology findings to define cases as IPF "confident", "possible" or "inconsistent".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Annual prevalence and incidence of IPF were estimated at 25.6 per 100,000 and 7.5 per 100,000 using the ICD9-CM code 516.3 without chart audit while they were estimated at 31.6 per 100,000 and at 9,3 per 100,000 for the IPF "confident" definition after hospital chart audit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data provide a first estimate of IPF incidence in Italy and indicate that incidence and prevalence in southern European regions may be similar to those observed in northern Europe and North America.
authors.affiliation: Departement of Epidemiology, Regional Health Service of Lazio, Rome. n.agabiti@deplazio.it.
authors.forename: Nera
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agabiti
authors.forename: Maria Assunta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Porretta
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bauleo
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sergiacomi
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zappa
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vignarola
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carlone
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mariotta
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palange
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasciuto
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pezzuto
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davoli
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saltini
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puxeddu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult