Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis may have lethal impact among People with Lung Conditions, Says AIIMS Study
New Delhi: A study by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has revealed the alarming threat posed by Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA), a fungal infection that claims the lives of 340,000 people worldwide each year. The study, published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, underscores that approximately one in three individuals with pre-existing lung conditions could face fatal consequences if infected by CPA, highlighting the gravity of the situation for vulnerable populations.
CPA (Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis) is a chronic infection caused by exposure to airborne spores of the mold Aspergillus. It leads to gradual scarring of the lungs over the course of months or years. It is a debilitating condition that causes severe tiredness, weight loss, breathlessness, and coughing up blood. While exposure to Aspergillus is harmless to most people, it may affect those with lung damage.
The study, based on a major global review and published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, found that approximately 32 percent of patients with prior lung damage who contracted CPA would succumb to the infection within five years. In the first year following diagnosis, nearly 15 percent of those with CPA and other lung diseases died from complications related to the infection.
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As per the latest media reports by Zee News, AIIMS Delhi researchers Dr. Abinhav Sengupta and Dr. Animesh Ray examined the death rates in 8,778 patients described in the literature from all continents except Antarctica.
This AIIMS-led research is part of an international collaborative effort, involving experts from institutions like the University of Manchester. The study reveals that CPA patients with prior tuberculosis (TB) had a lower overall 5-year mortality rate of 25 percent.
The researchers have mentioned that treatment with antifungal drugs or surgery is key to improving symptoms and reducing the risk of death.
The study also highlights that certain factors can worsen the prognosis for individuals with CPA. Patients over the age of 60, those with interstitial lung disease, cancer, or smoking-related lung conditions are more likely to experience severe outcomes as in these cases immune system are already weakened.
