Increased Odds of Death for Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease and COVID-19: A Case-Control Study

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an international public health emergency. Although the prevalence of chronic respiratory disease in patients with COVID-19 has been reportedly low (1.5%), it is associated with increased risk of severe disease and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increased mortality (1-3). Together with numerous previously reported risk factors for severe COVID-19 (1.-6), it has been hypothesized that patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) may have poorer outcomes from COVID-19. In this letter, we present the results of a multicenter retrospective case-control study examining outcomes from COVID-19 in patients with preexisting ILD.