April 2019
A large survey of diagnostic practice, performed by REG and recently published in the European Respiratory Journal: Open Research, has shown that multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) are widely implemented and performed in a similar manner globally.
The study included responses from 457 ILD-diagnosing centres across 64 countries and found that almost 80% of the centres discussed new ILD cases and referrals at MDT meetings. The structure of MDTs were broadly similar, with the majority being held as face to face meetings. Academic ILD centres had higher caseloads, were more likely to hold regular formal MDT meetings and had a wider range of medical disciplines in attendance than other centre types. Access to antifibrotics varied by region and country income.
While the structure of the MDT meetings described by participating centres was broadly similar, a “minimum MDT standard” remains hard to define.
The study was funded by Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim Three Lakes Partners.