Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) refers to the involvement of the pulmonary interstitium, characterized by inflammation and fibrosis. Psychological and functional impairments also impact patients’ social participation, often resulting in social isolation. In this context, it becomes critically important to implement assessments that consider the individual's level of social participation.

To assess the level of participation of individuals affected by ILD through the Participation Scale.

This is a preliminary multicenter cross-sectional study, part of a larger project approved by the research ethics committee, conducted with participants of both sexes diagnosed with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The participants underwent a standardized anamnesis and the Participation Scale, which consists of 18 items addressing dimensions of daily life affected by health. The scores from each item were summed to calculate a total score ranging from 0 to 72, where higher scores indicate more significant participation restrictions and an average of 12 points suggests the absence of participation restrictions. Additionally, individuals performed the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) following the American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines and underwent muscle strength assessment through Handgrip Strength (HGS) using a Jamar hydraulic dynamometer. For statistical analysis, Spearman’s correlation was performed, with a significance level set at 5%.

The sample consisted of 13 participants, 7 of whom were male (53%), with a mean age of 55.82±13.8 years. Only 3 (23.1%) participants had a body mass index within normal parameters. Regarding education, 7 (53.8%) had completed high school, and 7 (53.8%) self-identified as mixed-race. Post-COVID fibrosis was the most prevalent condition, affecting 4 (30.8%) participants, followed by idiopathic fibrosis, fibrosis associated with rheumatic diseases, silicosis, and sarcoidosis, each with 2 (15.4%) individuals, and finally, usual interstitial pneumonia, with 1 (7.7%) case. The total score of the Participation Scale had a mean of 31.64 ± 19.07 points. Thus, it can be inferred that the individuals presented significant participation restrictions. Specifically, 2 (15.4%) participants had no significant restriction, 1 (7.7%) had a mild restriction, 5 (38.5%) had a moderate restriction, 1 (7.7%) had a severe restriction, and 3 (23.1%) had extreme restriction. The mean distance covered in the 6MWT was 394 m, suggesting reduced functional capacity. The mean HGS was 34.38 KgF, indicating a reasonable level of peripheral muscle strength. The Participation Scale showed a strong correlation with the 6MWT distance (r: -0.702; p: 0.016) and a moderate correlation with HGS (r: -0.589; p: 0.044).

Participants showed significant restrictions in social participation. The negative correlation between 6MWT distance and HGS suggests an impact on both exercise capacity and muscle strength.

The preliminary findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and health policies to enhance social participation in individuals with ILD.