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Improving Accessibility to Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Barriers to Early Diagnosis and Timely Treatment in Latin America

Author

Listed:
  • Ricardo G. Figueiredo

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (UEFS), Feira de Santana 44036-900, Brazil)

  • Nathalia Filgueiras Vilaça Duarte

    (Boehringer Ingelheim do Brasil Química e Farmacêutica, São Paulo 04794-000, Brazil)

  • Daniela Carla Barbosa Campos

    (Boehringer Ingelheim do Brasil Química e Farmacêutica, São Paulo 04794-000, Brazil)

  • Manuel de Jesus Diaz Verduzco

    (Hospital Regional “Dr. Manuel Cardenas de la Vega”, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Culiacán Rosales 80230, Mexico)

  • Ángel Alemán Márquez

    (Hospital Naval de Especialidades de Veracruz, Hospital Español Veracruz, Universidad del Valle de México (UVM), UNAM Campus Veracruz, Veracruz 91700, Mexico)

  • Gabriela Tannus Branco de Araujo

    (Axiabio Life Sciences International, São Paulo 04038-032, Brazil)

  • Adalberto Sperb Rubin

    (Santa Casa Hospital Porto Alegre/UFCSPA, Porto Alegre 90035-074, Brazil)

Abstract

Delayed initiation of effective antifibrotic therapy in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD) may influence the progression and outcome of the disease. This study analyzes the differences in the journey of patients with ILD in the Brazilian and Mexican health systems. An evaluative study was conducted in reference centers for interstitial lung diseases in Brazil and Mexico with a panel of four specialists. The patient’s journey in both countries begins when the patient seeks medical care after observing a chronic respiratory symptom. In both countries, due to diagnostic complexity, these patients arrive at ILD referral centers at an advanced stage of the disease. Once diagnosis is established, the treatment onset differs between Mexico and Brazil. In Brazil, access to antifibrotic drugs through the public health system has been a significant challenge, and their cost makes them unaffordable for most people. This situation forces medical specialists to provide only supportive care to patients until these drugs can be accessed. In Mexico, antifibrotics have been available in health sectors since 2018. Brazil and Mexico have several similarities regarding the initial journey of the patient due to diagnosis difficulties. Still, the outcome tends to be different due to a difference in access to treatment with antifibrotics. For this reason, advancing health policies that ensure proper treatment for patients with ILD is crucial for the sustainability and reliability of the health system.

Suggested Citation

  • Ricardo G. Figueiredo & Nathalia Filgueiras Vilaça Duarte & Daniela Carla Barbosa Campos & Manuel de Jesus Diaz Verduzco & Ángel Alemán Márquez & Gabriela Tannus Branco de Araujo & Adalberto Sperb Rub, 2024. "Improving Accessibility to Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Barriers to Early Diagnosis and Timely Treatment in Latin America," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-15, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:5:p:647-:d:1397705
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