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Background: Forced vital capacity (FVC) and six-minute walk distance (6MWD) are robust markers in interstitial lung diseases (ILD) to assess severity and prognosis. It is unknown whether high-resolution computed tomography pattern has any independent effect on the exercise capacity in ILD. We compared six-minute walk test (6MWT) parameters between usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and non-UIP ILD after adjusting for FVC. Methods: Data from a tertiary care ILD clinic were retrospectively analysed. Based on HRCT, patients were classified as UIP and non-UIP. 6MWT parameters and FVC were recorded for enrolled patients. 6MWD, distance-saturation product (DSP) and exertional desaturation were compared between UIP and non-UIP, using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with per cent predicted FVC as covariate. Patients were grouped as mild (≥70%), moderate (51%–69%) and severe (≤50%) based on FVC severity. Results: Out of 169 patients enrolled, only patients with all three data points: spirometry, 6MWT and HRCT were included in the analysis (n = 139). UIP group comprised 56 (40.3%), while non-UIP group had 83 (59.7%) patients. More females and lesser smokers were present in non-UIP group. Mean predicted FVC% was similar between the two HRCT groups (P = 0.611) and had a statistically significant, though very weak to weak correlation with 6MWT parameters {6MWD (r = 0.138); pred 6MWD% (r = 0.170); desaturation (r = -0.227); DSP index (r = 0.166)}. Analysis of covariance showed no statistically significant difference in the 6MWT parameters between UIP and non-UIP groups for similar FVC levels. Conclusion: For a similar level of lung function, exercise capacity was similar for patients with UIP and non-UIP pattern ILD.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare multisystemic autoimmune disorder in which the esophagus is the second most common organ to be affected after the skin, leading to dysmotility. Literature available on esophageal dysmotility in SSc is limited. Moreover, studies explaining the spectrum of esophageal dysmotility in the disease in the Indian population are sparse. Aim: The aim of this study was to characterize esophageal motility disorders in SSc using esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) in a representative of the Southwestern Indian population. Methods: Thirty-two SSc patients participated in the study. All of them met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and underwent esophageal HRM at the Gastrointestinal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, of our center. The findings were interpreted using the Chicago Classification v3.0 criteria. Results: Among patients of SSc with a mean age of 42.25 ± 10.45 years, 19 (59.38%) had “absent contractility (AC),” 3 (9.38%) had “ineffective esophageal motility (IEM),” 3 (9.38%) had “type I achalasia, 1 (3.13%) had “esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction,” and 6 (18.75%) had “normal” HRM findings. The HRM parameter of “basal lower esophageal sphincter pressure” differed significantly between “IEM type I achalasia” (P = 0.043) and “type I achalasia AC” groups (P = 0.032), while “median integral relaxation pressure” of “type I achalasia” groups showed significant difference with “normal, IEM, and AC” groups each (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of the study suggest that varying degrees of esophageal motility disorders are present in SSc using HRM as defined by the Chicago Classification v3.0. Majority (59.38%) of patients had AC, but the rest of them showed other dysmotility patterns.