Common Fungal Infection Poses Severe Risk to Lung Disease Patients: Study

New Delhi: Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), a widespread fungal infection caused by airborne spores of the mould Aspergillus, is proving to be a serious threat to individuals with lung damage, according to a study conducted by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. CPA claims approximately 340,000 lives annually across the globe, with about one in three affected individuals succumbing within five years.

Published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the study underscores CPA’s debilitating effects, including lung scarring over time, severe fatigue, weight loss, breathlessness, and coughing up blood. While Aspergillus exposure is harmless for most people, those with pre-existing lung conditions such as tuberculosis (TB), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or interstitial lung disease are at significant risk.

The AIIMS researchers, Dr. Abinhav Sengupta and Dr. Animesh Ray, collaborated with experts from the University of Manchester to analyze death rates in 8,778 CPA patients from studies spanning all continents except Antarctica. The findings revealed a startling 32% five-year mortality rate among CPA patients with prior lung damage. Alarmingly, nearly 15% of these patients die within the first year.

A closer look at CPA’s interplay with tuberculosis showed that patients with CPA following TB had a relatively lower five-year mortality rate of 25%. However, many CPA cases are misdiagnosed as TB, leading to inappropriate treatments and a lack of critical antifungal therapy. Proper diagnosis and early treatment with antifungal drugs or surgical interventions could significantly improve survival and quality of life.

The study also identified additional factors that worsen outcomes. Patients over the age of 60, those with interstitial lung disease, smoking-related lung issues, or current cancer diagnoses face higher mortality risks.

The researchers emphasized the urgent need for heightened awareness and accurate diagnosis of CPA, especially in regions with high TB prevalence. By addressing misdiagnoses and expanding access to antifungal treatments, the healthcare system could save thousands of lives annually.

This study sheds light on the life-threatening potential of CPA and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing fungal infections in lung disease patients.