Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), a prevalent fungal infection responsible for approximately 340,000 deaths annually around the globe, can become fatal for about one in three individuals with existing lung conditions, according to a study conducted by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the capital.
CPA, triggered by inhaling airborne spores of the mould Aspergillus, leads to a gradual deterioration of the lungs over months or even years.
This debilitating illness results in significant fatigue, weight loss, difficulty breathing, and hemoptysis (coughing up blood). While encountering Aspergillus is typically harmless for the majority, it poses a risk for those with pre-existing lung damage.
The research, which is based on a comprehensive global review and published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, revealed that around 32 per cent of individuals who have experienced prior lung damage will succumb within five years if they also develop CPA.
Approximately 15 per cent of patients with CPA will pass away within the first year following other lung ailments.
Researchers from AIIMS Delhi, Dr Abinhav Sengupta and Dr Animesh Ray, assessed mortality rates among 8,778 patients documented in literature from all continents except Antarctica.
The international study, which included contributors from the University of Manchester, indicated that CPA patients with a history of tuberculosis (TB) had a lower overall five-year mortality rate of 25 per cent.
Nevertheless, they discovered that individuals with CPA are often misdiagnosed as having TB and consequently do not receive treatment with antifungal medications.
According to the researchers, the use of antifungal drugs or surgery is crucial for alleviating symptoms and decreasing the risk of mortality.
Moreover, individuals over the age of 60, as well as those suffering from interstitial lung disease, current malignancies, and lung diseases related to smoking, displayed poorer outcomes, as noted by the research team.
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