We aimed to investigate whether children previously treated for childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD) using systemic corticosteroids (sCCS) displayed cognitive and mental health impairment.

A descriptive follow-up study in patients diagnosed with chILD and treated with sCCS before age 18 years. Patients underwent cognitive assessment, screening for anxiety and depression, and questionnaires on adaptive and social functioning.

In total, 53 patients (29 males) median (IQR) age 19 (16;26) years were included. Median (IQR) cumulative dose of sCCS was 1144 (540;1723) mg/kg. Median (IQR) time in years since last sCCS dose was 11.7 (9.4;14.8).

Patients were within normal range in intelligence but displayed lower working memory with moderate effect size compared to normative data (Cohen's d=.5). The lower working memory could not be explained by sCCS treatment (dose, duration or time since last dose). Children (<18 years) had significantly lower processing speed than adults, with moderate effect sizes relative to norms (Cohen's d=.67). Patients had an exceedingly higher prevalence of anxiety (31%) and depression (29%) compared to the Danish population aged 10-24 years (cumulative incidence (95%CI) of anxiety: 7.9 (7.7-8.0) and major depression; 2.4 (2.3-2.5)). Neither anxiety nor depression was associated with treatment burden.

Patients treated with chILD appear to display executive dysfunctions and increased incidence of anxiety (fourfold) and depression (twelvefold) relative to norms. The association to severity of lung disease is unknown but physicians should be observant of cognitive and mental health problems in patients with chILD.