Physiological predictors of exertional oxygen desaturation in patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease

In patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD), hypoxemia on exertion is frequent, and contributes to exercise intolerance, exertional dyspnoea and reduced quality of life [1–3]. Clinically significant exertional hypoxemia is typically defined as a drop in transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) to ≤88% on a six-minute walk test (6MWT) [4], and is associated with reduced survival in ILD patients [5]. Footnotes This manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal . It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article. Conflict of interest: Dr. Alfieri has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Crisafulli has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Visca has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Chong has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Stock has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Mori has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. De Lauretis has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Tsipouri has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Chua reports lecture fees and advisory board fees from Boeringher Ingelheim and from Roche, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: Dr. Kouranos has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Kokosi has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Hogben has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: PLM has, via his institution, received industry-academic funding from Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim and Galapagos and has received speakers fees from Roche. Conflict of interest: Dr. George reports grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Boehringer Ingelheim, personal fees and non-financial support from Roche, personal fees from Teva, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: TMM has, via his institution, received industry-academic funding from GlaxoSmithKline R&D and UCB and has received consultancy or speakers fees from Apellis, Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Blade Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Galapagos, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Indalo, Novartis, Pliant, ProMetic, Respivnat, Roche, Samumed and UCB. Conflict of interest: Dr. Chetta has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Sestini has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Wells reports lecture fees and advisory board fees from Boeringher Ingelheim, Roche and Bayer, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: Dr. Renzoni reports lecture fees and advisory board fees from Boeringher Ingelheim and from Roche, and lecture fees from Mundipharma, outside the submitted work.