Multidisciplinary management of interstitial lung disease in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: an Italian Delphi consensus

Background Although guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach for the diagnosis and management of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease-associated interstitial lung disease (SARD-ILD), they lack guidance on MDT composition and function. This Delphi consensus project aimed to define a shared MDT model for managing patients with SARD-ILD. Methods A questionnaire was circulated to an expert panel of 77 Italian pulmonologists, rheumatologists, immunologists, and internal medicine specialists, with statements rated over two voting rounds using a 5-point Likert scale. Results Response rates were 73% and 95% for the first and second rounds, respectively, after which consensus (>= 66.6% agreement) was achieved for all the statements. Consensus statements and recommendations address the responsibilities of healthcare professionals involved in an MDT, including organization, referrals, management, and standard outcomes. Conclusion Although limited to Italy, the current consensus project is the first attempt to define shared rules for MDTs in the context of SARD-ILD, but further work is needed to achieve international consensus on this topic.