Impact of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease, With and Without Pulmonary Hypertension, on Survival: A Systematic Review.

Many people with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) deal with pulmonary hypertension (PH), which seriously reduces their chances of survival. The study aims to evaluate and compare survival outcomes and causes of mortality in patients with SSc-ILD with and without coexisting PH and to assess the implications for clinical management. A comparative review of observational studies and cohort data was conducted to analyze mortality patterns, underlying mechanisms, and treatment responses in SSc-ILD patients stratified by PH status. Based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) assessment, the overall methodological quality of the included studies was high. Specifically, 16 studies were classified as high quality, with NOS scores ranging from seven to eight, reflecting strong design and execution across the selection, comparability, and outcome domains. Five studies were rated as moderate quality, each scoring six, often due to selection or comparability component limitations. PH commonly affects a significant proportion of patients with SSc-ILD, particularly older adults, individuals of African American ethnicity, and those with reduced diffusing capacity of the lungs. Overall survival tends to be lower in patients with the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) subtype compared to others. A decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) of 10% or more within the first year is linked with higher mortality risk, especially when combined with a marked drop in lung diffusing capacity. Among the various subgroups, patients with both ILD and PH show the poorest five-year survival rates. Important predictors of mortality include the presence of ILD, reduced lung function, and decreased cardiac output. The study concluded that the presence of pulmonary hypertension significantly worsens survival in SSc-ILD patients, primarily through cardiopulmonary failure. These findings highlight the urgent need for early detection, risk stratification, and tailored therapeutic strategies to improve prognosis in this vulnerable population.