Włóknienie płuc idiopatyczne
Objawy

Idiopatyczne włóknienie płuc (IPF) to przewlekła, postępująca choroba charakteryzująca się bliznowaceniem tkanki płucnej, prowadzącym do sztywności płuc i upośledzenia wymiany gazowej. Choroba dotyka głównie osoby powyżej 50. roku życia, częściej mężczyzn. Wczesne objawy to duszność wysiłkowa, suchy kaszel i zmęczenie, które rozwijają się stopniowo, co często opóźnia diagnozę. Progresja IPF jest zmienna, z możliwym szybkim pogorszeniem lub stabilizacją z okresami zaostrzeń. Zaawansowane stadia cechują się dusznością spoczynkową, palcami pałeczkowatymi, utratą masy ciała, sinicą oraz koniecznością tlenoterapii. Kluczowe parametry monitorowania to FVC, DLCO oraz test 6-minutowego marszu, gdzie spadek FVC o >10% w 6 miesięcy i saturacja <88% podczas testu wiążą się z gorszym rokowaniem. Zaostrzenia, występujące u 10-20% pacjentów rocznie, mają wysoką śmiertelność (17-35,7%) i prowadzą do trwałego pogorszenia funkcji płuc.

Objawy idiopatycznego włóknienia płuc i ich progresja

Idiopatyczne włóknienie płuc (IPF) to poważna, przewlekła choroba płuc charakteryzująca się postępującym bliznowaceniem tkanki płucnej, co prowadzi do stopniowego upośledzenia funkcji płuc. Proces włóknienia powoduje, że płuca stają się sztywne i grube, co utrudnia wymianę gazową i prowadzi do narastających problemów z oddychaniem12. IPF dotyka głównie osoby powyżej 50. roku życia, ze zwiększoną częstością występowania u mężczyzn34.

Wczesne objawy IPF

We wczesnym stadium choroby objawy mogą być subtelne i rozwijać się stopniowo, co często powoduje opóźnienie w diagnozie. Pacjenci często ignorują początkowe symptomy, przypisując je procesowi starzenia lub złej kondycji fizycznej56. Badania wykazały, że pacjenci mogą zgłaszać objawy nawet przez pięć lat przed postawieniem właściwej diagnozy7.

Główne wczesne objawy IPF to:

  • Duszność wysiłkowa – początkowo pojawia się tylko podczas aktywności fizycznej, takiej jak wchodzenie po schodach czy pod górę89
  • Suchy, uporczywy kaszel – często opisywany jako suchy i napadowy, może być wyzwalany przez wysiłek, gorącą pogodę, mówienie, śmiech, płacz lub narażenie na dym i kurz1011
  • Uczucie zmęczenia – niewspółmierne do wysiłku, niereagujące na odpoczynek, może nasilać się po epizodach kaszlu1213

Progresja objawów w miarę rozwoju choroby

IPF to choroba postępująca, która z czasem się pogarsza, jednak tempo progresji może znacznie różnić się między pacjentami1415. U niektórych osób choroba postępuje powoli przez wiele lat, u innych natomiast może rozwijać się szybko w ciągu miesięcy16.

W miarę postępu choroby objawy mogą obejmować:

  • Nasilająca się duszność – z czasem pojawia się nawet podczas lekkich czynności, takich jak rozmowa telefoniczna, jedzenie czy ubieranie się, a w zaawansowanym stadium nawet w spoczynku1718
  • Nasilenie kaszlu – suchy kaszel staje się bardziej napadowy i trudny do kontrolowania1920
  • Utrata wagi i apetytu – niezamierzona utrata masy ciała i zmniejszony apetyt2122
  • Palce pałeczkowate – poszerzenie i zaokrąglenie końcówek palców rąk i nóg, określane jako palce pałeczkowate, występuje u około 50% pacjentów2324
  • Bóle mięśni i stawów – często związane z przewlekłym kaszlem i niedotlenieniem2526
  • Obrzęki kończyn dolnych – mogą pojawić się w miarę progresji choroby, często związane z rozwojem nadciśnienia płucnego27
  • Sinica – niebieskawe, szare lub białe zabarwienie skóry wokół ust, oczu lub paznokci, spowodowane niedotlenieniem2829

Zaawansowane stadium choroby

W miarę postępu IPF do stadium zaawansowanego, pacjenci mogą doświadczać:

  • Ciężkiej duszności spoczynkowej – utrudniającej wykonywanie nawet podstawowych czynności30
  • Konieczności stosowania tlenoterapii – początkowo podczas wysiłku, a później w sposób ciągły3132
  • Spadku saturacji tlenem – zwłaszcza podczas testu 6-minutowego marszu, co jest silnym predyktorem śmiertelności33
  • Zmęczenia i osłabienia – znacząco ograniczającego aktywność życiową34
  • Utraty zainteresowania jedzeniem i piciem – zwłaszcza w terminalnym stadium choroby35

Tempo progresji idiopatycznego włóknienia płuc

Przebieg IPF jest wysoce zmienny i trudny do przewidzenia. Naturalny przebieg choroby najczęściej opisuje się jako postępujący spadek funkcji płuc prowadzący do niewydolności oddechowej i śmierci średnio w ciągu około 4-5 lat od początkowej diagnozy36. Jednak rzeczywisty zakres przeżycia poszczególnych pacjentów z IPF jest dość szeroki, przy czym do 20-25% pacjentów żyje ponad 10 lat37.

Czynniki wpływające na tempo progresji

Na tempo progresji IPF mogą wpływać różne czynniki:

  • Wyjściowa funkcja płuc – niższe wartości natężonej pojemności życiowej (FVC) i zdolności dyfuzyjnej płuc dla tlenku węgla (DLCO) wiążą się z gorszym rokowaniem3839
  • Spadek FVC – spadek FVC o ponad 10% w ciągu 6 miesięcy wiąże się z 2,4-krotnie zwiększonym ryzykiem zgonu40
  • Spadek DLCO – wyjściowa DLCO poniżej 35% oraz spadek DLCO o ponad 15% w ciągu roku są związane ze zwiększoną śmiertelnością41
  • Desaturacja podczas testu 6-minutowego marszu – spadek saturacji poniżej 88% podczas testu wiąże się ze zwiększoną śmiertelnością42
  • Współistniejące choroby – takie jak nadciśnienie płucne, rozedma płuc czy choroba wieńcowa4344
  • Refluks żołądkowo-przełykowy – może przyczyniać się do progresji choroby i występowania zaostrzeń4546

W praktyce klinicznej obserwuje się różne wzorce progresji IPF:

  • Powolna progresja – u niektórych pacjentów choroba postępuje powoli, z łagodnymi lub umiarkowanymi objawami, które pogarszają się stopniowo przez kilka lat47
  • Szybka progresja – u innych osób choroba może postępować szybko, z znacznym pogorszeniem w ciągu kilku miesięcy48
  • Stabilizacja z okresami pogorszenia – niektórzy pacjenci doświadczają dłuższych okresów stabilności, po których następują okresy szybszej progresji choroby49

Zaostrzenia w idiopatycznym włóknieniu płuc

Zaostrzenia są kluczowym elementem przebiegu IPF i mogą znacząco wpływać na rokowanie. Ostre zaostrzenie IPF definiuje się jako nagłe pogorszenie objawów oddechowych w ciągu kilku dni lub tygodni, bez identyfikowalnej przyczyny5051.

Charakterystyka zaostrzeń IPF:

  • Częstość występowania – około 10-20% pacjentów z IPF doświadcza zaostrzenia w ciągu roku5253
  • Objawy – nagłe nasilenie duszności, często z towarzyszącym nasileniem kaszlu, gorączką i ogólnym złym samopoczuciem54
  • Przyczyny – mogą obejmować infekcje płucne, zatorowość płucną, niewydolność serca, jednak często przyczyna pozostaje nieznana5556
  • Rokowanie – zaostrzenia wiążą się z wysoką śmiertelnością wewnątrzszpitalną, sięgającą 17-35,7%5758
  • Wpływ na przebieg choroby – uszkodzenie płuc podczas zaostrzenia jest nieodwracalne, co prowadzi do trwałego pogorszenia funkcji płuc5960

Zaostrzenia występują częściej u pacjentów z zaawansowaną chorobą niż u tych z wczesnym IPF61. Czynniki ryzyka zaostrzeń obejmują niską FVC, zwiększoną pojemność płuc, niską DLCO, małą odległość w teście 6-minutowego marszu, niewystarczające utlenowanie, nasiloną duszność podstawową oraz wcześniejsze epizody zaostrzeń62.

Monitorowanie progresji choroby

Regularne monitorowanie jest kluczowe dla oceny tempa progresji IPF i dostosowania leczenia63. Główne parametry wykorzystywane do monitorowania progresji to:

  • Badania funkcji płuc – zwłaszcza FVC i DLCO; spadek FVC o 5-10 punktów procentowych wskazuje na progresję choroby64
  • Test 6-minutowego marszu – spadek dystansu o 50 metrów lub więcej wskazuje na progresję choroby i zwiększone ryzyko zgonu65
  • Tomografia komputerowa wysokiej rozdzielczości (HRCT) – do oceny rozległości włóknienia i obecności plastra miodu6667
  • Ocena nasilenia objawów – szczególnie duszności i kaszlu6869

W niekórych ośrodkach stosuje się model GAP (Gender, Age, Physiology), który uwzględnia płeć, wiek i parametry fizjologiczne (w tym FVC i DLCO) do określenia stadium IPF70.

Powikłania związane z progresją IPF

Wraz z postępem choroby mogą rozwijać się poważne powikłania, które przyczyniają się do zwiększonej chorobowości i śmiertelności71:

  • Nadciśnienie płucne – rozwija się u wielu pacjentów z zaawansowanym IPF, powodując nasilenie duszności, zmniejszenie zdolności wysiłkowej i zwiększoną śmiertelność7273
  • Niewydolność oddechowa – końcowy etap progresji IPF, często wymagający tlenoterapii7475
  • Niewydolność prawokomorowa serca – spowodowana przewlekłym nadciśnieniem płucnym7677
  • Zwiększone ryzyko infekcji płucnych – z powodu zmienionej struktury płuc7879
  • Zwiększone ryzyko raka płuc – częstość występowania 5-10%, wzrasta wraz z postępem choroby8081
  • Obturacyjny bezdech senny – częstszy u pacjentów z włóknieniem płuc8283

Leczenie spowalniające progresję IPF

Chociaż nie ma lekarstwa na IPF, dostępne są terapie, które mogą spowolnić progresję choroby i poprawić jakość życia8485:

  • Pirfenidon (Esbriet) – lek przeciwwłóknieniowy spowalniający progresję IPF; najczęstsze działania niepożądane to zaburzenia żołądkowe i wysypka skórna, szczególnie przy ekspozycji na słońce8687
  • Nintedanib (Ofev) – lek przeciwwłóknieniowy spowalniający bliznowacenie płuc; najczęstszym działaniem niepożądanym jest biegunka8889
  • Rehabilitacja pulmonologiczna – program ćwiczeń i edukacji zaprojektowany specjalnie dla pacjentów z chorobami płuc90
  • Tlenoterapia – w miarę pogorszenia funkcji płuc, wspomagająca redukcję duszności i poprawiająca tolerancję wysiłku9192
  • Przeszczepienie płuc – opcja dla wybranych pacjentów, może znacząco poprawić jakość życia i przeżycie9394

Wczesne rozpoznanie i rozpoczęcie leczenia jest kluczowe, ponieważ leki przeciwwłóknieniowe działają najlepiej, gdy choroba jest zdiagnozowana na wczesnym etapie9596. Dowody wskazują, że pirfenidon i nintedanib zmniejszają ryzyko ostrego spadku funkcji płuc i poprawiają oczekiwaną długość życia poprzez spowolnienie tempa progresji IPF97.

Prognoza i rokowanie

IPF wiąże się z poważnym rokowaniem, przy czym średnie przeżycie wynosi od 2 do 5 lat od momentu diagnozy9899. Jednak rokowanie dla poszczególnych pacjentów może się znacznie różnić100.

Czynniki wpływające na rokowanie:

  • Wiek w momencie diagnozy – starszy wiek wiąże się z gorszym rokowaniem101
  • Nasilenie choroby w momencie diagnozy – pacjenci z łagodnym upośledzeniem fizjologicznym mają lepsze przeżycie niż pacjenci z umiarkowaną-ciężką chorobą102
  • Obecność chorób współistniejących – pięcioletnie przeżycie wynosiło 53,7% u pacjentów bez chorób współistniejących, ale spadało do 41,1% u osób z czterema lub więcej chorobami współistniejącymi103
  • Odpowiedź na leczenie – pacjenci odpowiadający na leczenie mogą pozostawać względnie wolni od objawów przez wiele lat104105
  • Częstość zaostrzeń – częste zaostrzenia wiążą się z wyższą śmiertelnością106

Postępy w leczeniu, w tym wprowadzenie leków przeciwwłóknieniowych i lepsze monitorowanie choroby, przyczyniają się do poprawy przeżycia pacjentów z IPF w ostatnich latach107108.

Znaczenie wczesnego rozpoznania i leczenia

Wczesne rozpoznanie IPF ma kluczowe znaczenie dla rozpoczęcia leczenia, które może spowolnić postęp choroby i poprawić jakość życia109110. Wielu pacjentów dowiaduje się o IPF dopiero po doświadczeniu objawów przez dłuższy czas lub nawet po zaawansowaniu choroby111.

Ponieważ wczesne objawy IPF mogą być nieswoiste i podobne do innych, częstszych chorób płuc (takich jak astma i POChP), ważne jest, aby lekarze podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej potrafili rozpoznać pacjentów z IPF i skierować ich wcześniej do specjalisty112113.

Wczesne skierowanie do specjalisty oznacza wcześniejsze leczenie, co może poprawić wyniki leczenia pacjentów114. Badania wykazują, że pacjenci z wczesnym IPF (na podstawie wyników badań czynności płuc) mają mniej epizodów ostrego zaostrzenia niż osoby z zaawansowaną chorobą115.

Leczenie przeciwwłóknieniowe działa najlepiej, gdy rozpoczyna się wcześnie w przebiegu choroby, zanim dojdzie do znacznego zwłóknienia116. Dlatego rozpoznawanie wczesnych objawów IPF i omawianie ich z lekarzem może często pomóc we wczesnym wykryciu IPF i zapewnieniu większej ilości czasu na współpracę z lekarzem w zakresie planu leczenia117.

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  1. 09.04.2026
  2. www.leksykon.com.pl

Materiały źródłowe

  • #1 Pulmonary fibrosis – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353690
    Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred. This thickened, stiff tissue makes it harder for the lungs to work properly. Pulmonary fibrosis worsens over time. Some people can stay stable for a long time, but the condition gets worse faster in others. As it gets worse, people become more and more short of breath. […] Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis may include: Shortness of breath. Dry cough. Extreme tiredness. Weight loss that’s not intended. Aching muscles and joints. Widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes, called clubbing. […] How fast pulmonary fibrosis worsens over time and how severe the symptoms are can vary greatly from person to person. Some people become ill very quickly with severe disease. Others have moderate symptoms that worsen more slowly, over months or years.
  • #2 Pulmonary Fibrosis – What Is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis? | NHLBI, NIH
    https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a serious chronic (long term) disease that affects the tissue surrounding the air sacs, or alveoli, in the lungs. […] The most common symptoms of IPF are shortness of breath and cough. Some people may not have symptoms at first, but symptoms can develop and get worse as the disease progresses. […] The way that IPF progresses varies from person to person, and scarring may happen slowly or quickly. In some people, the disease stays the same for years. In other people, the condition quickly gets worse. Many people with IPF also experience what are known as acute exacerbations, where symptoms suddenly become much more serious. […] There is currently no cure for IPF. However, certain treatments may slow the progression of IPF and help your lungs work better.
  • #3 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
    https://www.asthmafoundation.org.nz/your-health/other-respiratory-conditions/about-ipf
    Most people develop their IPF symptoms after the age of 60 years and the disease is uncommon in people below the age of 50 years. Men are affected more commonly than women. […] The most common symptoms are: Breathlessness, especially when exercising, such as walking up hills or stairs […] A chronic dry or hacking cough […] Discomfort in the chest, although rarely is this described as severe pain […] Finger clubbing, which is a change in the shape of the fingernails […] Fatigue and weakness […] Loss of appetite […] Rapid loss of weight. […] These symptoms are not specific to IPF, meaning that there are many other conditions which can have the same symptoms. In particular, heart failure or chest infection can cause many of the above symptoms. This means IPF can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages of the disease. The symptoms often only become more evident when the disease has already caused considerable damage to the lungs. Other symptoms may be found in other ILDs, such as joint or muscle pain.
  • #4 Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | BMJ Best Practice
    https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/446
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause. The disease is chronic, progressive, and ultimately fatal. […] Diagnosis is suspected clinically in patients with bi-basilar inspiratory crackles, older age (e.g., 60 years), and unexplained symptomatic or asymptomatic bilateral pulmonary fibrosis on a chest x-ray or high-resolution computed tomography. […] The disease is limited to the lungs, so presentation should occur without constitutional or other symptoms that suggest a multisystem disease or an alternative diagnosis. […] Diagnosis requires the exclusion of other forms of interstitial pneumonia, including other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias and interstitial lung diseases associated with environmental exposures, medications, or systemic diseases (e.g., connective tissue disease). […] Key diagnostic factors include presence of risk factors, dyspnoea, cough, and crackles. […] Other diagnostic factors include weight loss, fatigue, malaise, and clubbing.
  • #5 Early Symptoms | ILD Collaborative
    https://www.ildcollaborative.org/resources/ipf-patient-journey/early-symptoms
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) mainly affects people who are over the age of 50. IPF is rare, affecting fewer than 5 people out of every 10,000 people. It often starts with vague, annoying symptoms that do not seem very serious. People with early IPF may become breathless when walking upstairs, or climbing a hill. They may develop a nagging, dry cough. They may feel tired, even after a full nights sleep. Many people with early symptoms think that their symptoms are just a normal part of aging. […] It is important to take these early symptoms of IPF seriously. Feeling breathless or having a nagging cough are not a normal part of aging. Although IPF has no cure, treatments are available that can slow down lung damage, improve symptoms, and improve quality of life. These treatments work best when the condition is diagnosed early.
  • #6 Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) | nidirect
    https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-ipf
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. The symptoms of IPF tend to develop gradually and get slowly worse over time. Symptoms can include: shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss, rounded and swollen fingertips (clubbed fingers). Many people ignore their breathlessness at first and blame it on getting old or being out of shape. But eventually even light activity such as getting dressed can cause shortness of breath. IPF gets worse over time, although the speed at which this happens is highly variable. Some people respond well to treatment. They will stay almost completely free of symptoms for many years. Others may get rapidly worse or find the breathlessness debilitating. It’s very difficult to predict how long someone with IPF will survive at the time of diagnosis. Regular monitoring over time can show whether it’s getting worse quickly or slowly. It’s hoped these figures will be improved by the availability of new treatments to slow the disease’s progression.
  • #7 Early Symptoms | ILD Collaborative
    https://www.ildcollaborative.org/resources/ipf-patient-journey/early-symptoms
    Breathlessness and a nagging, dry cough can start years before a person is diagnosed with IPF. A research study from the United Kingdom looked at medical records for 1,671 patients who were eventually diagnosed with IPF. The study found that patients with IPF were telling their primary care doctors about their troubles with breathlessness and cough for up to five years before they were actually diagnosed with IPF.
  • #8 Early Symptoms | ILD Collaborative
    https://www.ildcollaborative.org/resources/ipf-patient-journey/early-symptoms
    There are three main early symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). These are: Breathlessness a feeling of being short of breath or out of breath. This is often more noticeable during exercise, such as walking upstairs or uphill. In early IPF, breathlessness may only happen during exercise. Later, patients may feel breathless even while resting. […] Cough usually dry and nagging. Coughing often comes in episodes for people with IPF. Coughing episodes can be triggered by exercise, hot weather, talking, laughing, or crying. They can also be triggered by breathing in smoke, strong smells, fumes, or dust. […] Fatigue a feeling of tiredness or weariness that is not relieved by sleeping. It may feel physical, emotional, or both. Fatigue may be worse after coughing episodes. For people with IPF, fatigue seems to worsen over time.
  • #9 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Symptoms | What to Look For
    https://www.nationaljewish.org/conditions/ipf/ipf-overview/symptoms
    The most common symptom of IPF is shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea. Many people describe this as a feeling of breathlessness. […] The earliest symptom of IPF is shortness of breath with exertion or strenuous activity. Many people ignore this symptom or ascribe it to being old or out of shape and simply reduce the amount of physical activity they do. For example, earlier in the course of IPF, you may notice shortness of breath only when running or hurrying to catch a bus. Later in the course of IPF, you may notice shortness of breath when casually walking across the street. […] The hallmark symptom or main symptom of IPF is shortness of breath. It comes on very quietly or gradually, typically. It sneaks up on patients, so that they notice shortness of breath maybe when theyre walking up a slight incline that they once walked up without any difficulty.
  • #10 Early Symptoms | ILD Collaborative
    https://www.ildcollaborative.org/resources/ipf-patient-journey/early-symptoms
    There are three main early symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). These are: Breathlessness a feeling of being short of breath or out of breath. This is often more noticeable during exercise, such as walking upstairs or uphill. In early IPF, breathlessness may only happen during exercise. Later, patients may feel breathless even while resting. […] Cough usually dry and nagging. Coughing often comes in episodes for people with IPF. Coughing episodes can be triggered by exercise, hot weather, talking, laughing, or crying. They can also be triggered by breathing in smoke, strong smells, fumes, or dust. […] Fatigue a feeling of tiredness or weariness that is not relieved by sleeping. It may feel physical, emotional, or both. Fatigue may be worse after coughing episodes. For people with IPF, fatigue seems to worsen over time.
  • #11
    https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/understanding-pff/about-pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms
    The most common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are dry, persistent cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may be mild or even absent early in the disease process. As the lungs develop more scar tissue, symptoms worsen. Shortness of breath initially occurs with exercise, but as the disease progresses patients may become breathless while taking part in everyday activities, such as showering, getting dressed, speaking on the phone, or even eating. […] Other common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include: Fatigue and weakness, Discomfort in the chest, Loss of appetite, Unexplained weight loss.
  • #12 Early Symptoms | ILD Collaborative
    https://www.ildcollaborative.org/resources/ipf-patient-journey/early-symptoms
    There are three main early symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). These are: Breathlessness a feeling of being short of breath or out of breath. This is often more noticeable during exercise, such as walking upstairs or uphill. In early IPF, breathlessness may only happen during exercise. Later, patients may feel breathless even while resting. […] Cough usually dry and nagging. Coughing often comes in episodes for people with IPF. Coughing episodes can be triggered by exercise, hot weather, talking, laughing, or crying. They can also be triggered by breathing in smoke, strong smells, fumes, or dust. […] Fatigue a feeling of tiredness or weariness that is not relieved by sleeping. It may feel physical, emotional, or both. Fatigue may be worse after coughing episodes. For people with IPF, fatigue seems to worsen over time.
  • #13 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis | AAFP
    https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/care-resources/respiratory-health/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis.html
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by a progressive breathlessness and cough, as well as a decline in lung function. […] The most common symptoms of IPF are dyspnea and cough. Dyspnea is usually exertional and associated with walking up inclines or steps. The cough is typically described as dry and hacking, and may start with a tickle in the throat. The severity of these symptoms varies. […] Other possible symptoms of IPF are fatigue and problems with sleeping. Symptoms that have not been associated with IPF include chest pain, fever, rash, weight loss, and myalgia or arthralgia, although these may be seen in various other forms of ILD. […] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis should be considered for all patients with unexplained chronic exertional dyspnea, and those who present with a cough, bibasilar inspiratory crackles, and finger clubbing. The disease most often occurs in individuals older than 50, men, and smokers.
  • #14 Pulmonary Fibrosis Progression and Exacerbation | American Lung Association
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis/patients/living-well-with-pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-and-exacerbation
    Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease that naturally gets worse over time. This worsening is related to the amount of fibrosis (scarring) in the lungs. As this occurs, a person’s breathing becomes more difficult, eventually resulting in shortness of breath, even at rest. […] Patients with pulmonary fibrosis experience disease progression at different rates. Some patients progress slowly and live with PF for many years, while others decline more quickly. […] Some patients will experience a sudden worsening of their pulmonary fibrosis, which is referred to as an acute exacerbation. This occurs when there is a triggering event that results in a sudden increase in the processes that lead to scarring. As the lung scarring gets worse, patients have a harder time breathing. The damage to the lungs during an acute exacerbation is permanent.
  • #15 Pulmonary Fibrosis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10959-pulmonary-fibrosis
    No, there isn’t a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Treatment focuses on easing symptoms, slowing down progression, and improving your quality of life. […] Healthcare providers can’t easily predict how pulmonary fibrosis will progress. Your symptoms may get worse very slowly, over years. In some cases, the disease may lead to severe symptoms quickly (over months). […] The life expectancy of someone with the most common form, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, is three to five years. But life expectancies for people with PF have been getting longer in recent years.
  • #16 Pulmonary fibrosis – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353690
    Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred. This thickened, stiff tissue makes it harder for the lungs to work properly. Pulmonary fibrosis worsens over time. Some people can stay stable for a long time, but the condition gets worse faster in others. As it gets worse, people become more and more short of breath. […] Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis may include: Shortness of breath. Dry cough. Extreme tiredness. Weight loss that’s not intended. Aching muscles and joints. Widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes, called clubbing. […] How fast pulmonary fibrosis worsens over time and how severe the symptoms are can vary greatly from person to person. Some people become ill very quickly with severe disease. Others have moderate symptoms that worsen more slowly, over months or years.
  • #17
    https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/understanding-pff/about-pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms
    The most common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are dry, persistent cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may be mild or even absent early in the disease process. As the lungs develop more scar tissue, symptoms worsen. Shortness of breath initially occurs with exercise, but as the disease progresses patients may become breathless while taking part in everyday activities, such as showering, getting dressed, speaking on the phone, or even eating. […] Other common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include: Fatigue and weakness, Discomfort in the chest, Loss of appetite, Unexplained weight loss.
  • #18 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
    https://www.upmc.com/services/pulmonology/conditions/ipf
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease marked by progressive scarring of the lungs. The disease is called idiopathic because there is currently no known cause for IPF. […] Fibrosis, or scar tissue, develops and prevents the lungs from working normally. This gradually interferes with a persons ability to breathe and function. […] Typical early symptoms of IPF include shortness of breath during periods of activity and a dry cough. Other possible symptoms include weight loss and fatigue. With later-stage IPF, enlargement or clubbing of the fingertips may develop. As the disease progresses, shortness of breath may occur at rest, making even normal activities such as walking, taking on the phone, and eating difficult.
  • #19 What are the stages of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
    https://www.antidote.me/blog/what-are-the-stages-of-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    The early symptoms of IPF can sometimes include fatigue, shortness of breath, and a distinctive, dry cough, but some people do not experience symptoms at all in this first phase. […] As IPF advances, it becomes more common for patients to experience coughing more frequently, in addition to shortness of breath with activity. […] In the third stage, patients will feel shortness of breath with activity and will experience low oxygen levels at rest. […] Eventually, a portable, lightweight oxygen delivery system will no longer be sufficient for a patients needs, and doctors will then recommend high-flow oxygen delivery.
  • #20 Pulmonary Fibrosis – Symptoms | NHLBI, NIH
    https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms
    The symptoms of IPF develop over time. Symptoms may be different between people and may develop slowly or quickly. […] The most common symptoms are: […] Shortness of breath that gets worse over time. At first, you may be short of breath only during exercise. Over time, you may feel breathless even at rest. […] A dry cough that gets worse. You may have repeated bouts of coughing that you cannot control. […] Other symptoms may include: […] Aching muscles and joints […] Clubbing, which is a widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes […] Extreme tiredness […] Gradual, unintended weight loss […] Generally feeling unwell […] Rapid, shallow breathing.
  • #21 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
    https://www.webmd.com/lung/what-is-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    After many years, the scarring in your lungs gets worse, and you might have: Chest pain or tightness, Leg swelling, Loss of appetite. […] Other symptoms of IPF include: Feeling more tired than usual, Joint and muscle aches, Weight loss without trying, Clubbing, when the tips of your fingers and toes get wider. […] The scar tissue in your lungs makes it hard for your body to get oxygen, which puts a strain on your other organs. […] Everyone with IPF is different. For some, the disease gets worse quickly. For others, it can be a slow process in which their lungs stay the same for a long time. […] Average survival is 3 to 5 years, but some people live much longer. A lung transplant can also change your life expectancy.
  • #22 What are the stages of pulmonary fibrosis? | Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.actionpf.org/information-support/pulmonary-fibrosis-stages
    Your medical team will monitor your pulmonary fibrosis progression. They may describe your lung disease as mild, moderate or severe based upon your symptoms, lung function tests, six-minute walk test and amount of fibrosis present on CT chest scan. […] Make sure you tell your medical team if your symptoms seem to be getting worse. Look out for the following: youre becoming increasingly breathless, especially with mild physical activity or when you’re sitting or resting; your cough is getting worse or has changed in nature (for example, a dry cough becomes productive of sputum); youre suffering from increased tiredness or generally feeling low; youre experiencing unintended weight loss; youve seen a change in your pattern of breathing (e.g. rapid, shallow breathing); there are any issues that seem to be triggered by your medication.
  • #23 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Pulmonary Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition
    https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pulmonary-disorders/interstitial-lung-diseases/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Symptoms and signs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis typically develop over 6 months to several years and include dyspnea on exertion and nonproductive cough. […] The classic sign of IPF is fine, dry, inspiratory crackles (Velcro crackles) at both bases. Clubbing is present in about 50% of cases. […] Most patients have moderate to advanced clinical disease at the time of diagnosis and deteriorate despite treatment. The mortality rate is estimated to be 50 to 70% at 5 years. […] Causes of acute deterioration include infections, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, and heart failure. Also, acute exacerbations without an identifiable cause may occur. All acute exacerbations have a high morbidity and mortality.
  • #24 IPF Symptoms: Weight Loss, Clubbing, Fatigue, and More
    https://www.healthline.com/health/managing-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/hidden-ipf-warning-signs
    A hacking cough and breathlessness are two of the most common symptoms, but there are many other possible symptoms. […] People with IPF sometimes lose their appetite and, in turn, lose weight unintentionally. […] Clubbing of the fingers and toes happens when your body is receiving less oxygen through the bloodstream. […] Fatigue is one of the most difficult aspects of the condition. […] For some with IPF, coughing is worse at night. It makes getting restful sleep difficult. […] Coughing can also result in aches and pains in your muscles and joints. […] IPF may cause edema, or swelling, in your extremities. […] Early diagnosis is key with IPF. The sooner you find out you have the condition, the sooner you can try to slow its progression and ease your symptoms.
  • #25 Pulmonary Fibrosis – Symptoms | NHLBI, NIH
    https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms
    The symptoms of IPF develop over time. Symptoms may be different between people and may develop slowly or quickly. […] The most common symptoms are: […] Shortness of breath that gets worse over time. At first, you may be short of breath only during exercise. Over time, you may feel breathless even at rest. […] A dry cough that gets worse. You may have repeated bouts of coughing that you cannot control. […] Other symptoms may include: […] Aching muscles and joints […] Clubbing, which is a widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes […] Extreme tiredness […] Gradual, unintended weight loss […] Generally feeling unwell […] Rapid, shallow breathing.
  • #26 Pulmonary Fibrosis | Saint Luke’s Health System
    https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/pulmonary-fibrosis
    Symptoms of IPF include: […] Trouble breathing or shortness of breath, especially during exercise […] Long-term (chronic) dry, hacking cough […] Chest pain […] Widening and rounding of the tips of fingers or toes (clubbing) […] Slow, unintended weight loss or loss of appetite […] Fast, shallow breathing […] Feeling tired and weak […] Joint and muscle pain. […] Pulmonary fibrosis cant be cured. Treatment can help control the disease and improve symptoms.
  • #27 Pulmonary Fibrosis Symptoms | Temple Health
    https://www.templehealth.org/services/conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms
    Other symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include: Fatigue, Unexplained weight loss, Rapid, shallow breathing, Clubbing widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes, Bluish discoloration of fingers or toes, caused by low blood oxygen levels, Swelling in the feet or legs. If you have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, it may lead to or occur alongside other problems, including lung infections, blood clots in the lungs and lung cancer. As pulmonary fibrosis becomes more severe, patients may develop other serious conditions, including respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. […] Pulmonary fibrosis symptoms tend to worsen over time, from mild to moderate and severe to very severe. As your condition progresses, you may develop other symptoms such as: Blue discoloration of the fingers or toes, Rapid, shallow breathing, Swelling in the feet and legs, Tiredness, Unexplained weight loss, Widening or rounding of the fingertips or toes, a condition called clubbing. Sometimes pulmonary fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, leads to other serious problems, such as: Blood clots in the lungs, Lung infections, Lung cancer. At its most severe, pulmonary fibrosis can also lead to conditions such as: Respiratory failure, Pulmonary hypertension, Heart failure.
  • #28 Pulmonary Fibrosis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10959-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Pulmonary fibrosis usually gets worse over time, but how quickly it gets worse is different for everyone. […] You might feel short of breath or get tired with everyday activities. […] If you have pulmonary fibrosis, you may get short of breath during daily tasks that never seemed tiring before. […] Pulmonary fibrosis is permanent and usually gets progressively worse over time (called progressive pulmonary fibrosis). […] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is lung scarring without a known cause. Most cases of pulmonary fibrosis are idiopathic. […] Pulmonary fibrosis symptoms include: Shortness of breath, especially during or soon after exertion; Breathing in short, shallow spurts; Dry cough that doesn’t go away; Fatigue; Unexplained weight loss; Clubbed fingers; Bluish, gray or white skin around your lips, eyes or nails (cyanosis).
  • #29 Pulmonary Fibrosis, including Idiopathic (IPF): Symptoms, Causes and Stages
    https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/breathlessness-and-breathing-difficulties-dyspnoea/pulmonary-fibrosis
    Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung disease where the tiny air sacs of the lungs (the alveoli) and the lung tissue next to the alveoli become damaged and scarred, resulting in lung fibrosis. The main symptom is shortness of breath that gradually gets worse. […] The early symptom of pulmonary fibrosis is usually shortness of breath with activity (exertion), with or without a dry cough. Symptoms tend to develop gradually: […] Shortness of breath that gradually becomes worse over time is the main symptom. This is due to the reduced amount of oxygen that gets into the bloodstream. […] As the condition progresses, symptoms can sometimes quickly become worse (called an acute exacerbation). Periods of worse symptoms may be followed by periods where there seems to be some improvement. […] Shortness of breath gradually becomes severe and present at rest as well as when you’re active.
  • #30 Pulmonary fibrosis stages – Breathing Matters – UCL Respiratory
    https://www.breathingmatters.co.uk/pulmonary-fibrosis-stages/
    As the disease progresses, symptoms become more pronounced. Increasing breathlessness, signifying a decline in lung function, makes daily activities more and more challenging. […] In the advanced stages of pulmonary fibrosis, symptoms become severe and debilitating. Significant shortness of breath occurs even at rest, and individuals may require oxygen therapy to assist with breathing. […] Managing advanced symptoms is essential for maintaining quality of life and providing comfort.
  • #31 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Lung Health Foundation – Symptoms
    https://lunghealth.ca/lung-disease/a-to-z/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/
    There is no cure for IPF and there are currently no procedures or medications that can remove the scarring from the lungs. Treatments are used to slow progression of the lung scarring, and may not necessarily lessen the symptoms of cough and breathlessness. […] IPF is an irreversible, progressive disease. So it is important to learn good coping skills and educate yourself about the disease as much as possible. […] The scarring in the lungs can prevent oxygen from being absorbed into your body. Low oxygen levels can make you feel short of breath and tired. If your blood oxygen levels are too low, your doctor may prescribe supplemental oxygen (home oxygen). This helps to reduce breathlessness and can help you be more active. Some people with IPF may need oxygen therapy all the time, while others may only need it during exercise or sleep.
  • #32 Managing Your Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Symptoms & Treatment | Carle.org
    https://carle.org/conditions/pulmonary-fibroids
    Early symptoms include a dry cough and shortness of breath (dyspnea). Later, dyspnea becomes the major problem. Activities, such as climbing stairs, walking short distances, and dressing, become hard and sometimes almost impossible. […] In advanced stages, people may need oxygen constantly. Most people live an average of 4 to 6 years after diagnosis.
  • #33 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301226-overview
    A baseline diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) below 35% is correlated with increased mortality. Additionally, a decline in DLCO greater than 15% over 1 year is also associated with increased mortality. […] Desaturation below the threshold of 88% during the 6MWT has been associated with an increased mortality.
  • #34 End of life with pulmonary fibrosis | Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.actionpf.org/information-support/end-of-life
    Everybody is different but over time, your lung function is likely to drop and you may need oxygen to support your breathing. You may become a lot more fatigued and it will be harder to breathe as your pulmonary fibrosis progresses. […] As you lose more lung function you will probably want to spend more time in bed. Towards the end, you may be sleepy or unconscious much of the time. […] You may also lose interest in eating and drinking. Your breathing pattern may change and eventually, your skin may become pale and moist, and you will become very drowsy.
  • #35 End of life with pulmonary fibrosis | Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.actionpf.org/information-support/end-of-life
    Everybody is different but over time, your lung function is likely to drop and you may need oxygen to support your breathing. You may become a lot more fatigued and it will be harder to breathe as your pulmonary fibrosis progresses. […] As you lose more lung function you will probably want to spend more time in bed. Towards the end, you may be sleepy or unconscious much of the time. […] You may also lose interest in eating and drinking. Your breathing pattern may change and eventually, your skin may become pale and moist, and you will become very drowsy.
  • #36 Prognosis and monitoring of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – UpToDate
    https://www.uptodate.com/contents/prognosis-and-monitoring-of-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)/usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), previously known as cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA) in Europe, is the most common type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). […] The natural history of IPF is most often described as one of insidious decline in lung function resulting in progression to respiratory failure and death on average within approximately four to five years after the initial diagnosis. […] Mortality — The median survival of IPF has been reported to range from two to five years. This estimate reflects the range of average life expectancies observed in cohorts of IPF patients, rather than the limits of an individual patient’s life expectancy. This nuance is important, as the actual range of survival of individual IPF patients is quite broad, with up to 20 to 25 percent of patients living beyond 10 years.
  • #37 Prognosis and monitoring of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – UpToDate
    https://www.uptodate.com/contents/prognosis-and-monitoring-of-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)/usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), previously known as cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA) in Europe, is the most common type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). […] The natural history of IPF is most often described as one of insidious decline in lung function resulting in progression to respiratory failure and death on average within approximately four to five years after the initial diagnosis. […] Mortality — The median survival of IPF has been reported to range from two to five years. This estimate reflects the range of average life expectancies observed in cohorts of IPF patients, rather than the limits of an individual patient’s life expectancy. This nuance is important, as the actual range of survival of individual IPF patients is quite broad, with up to 20 to 25 percent of patients living beyond 10 years.
  • #38 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301226-overview
    As idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses, honeycombing becomes more prominent. […] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) portends a poor prognosis. With regard to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis life expectancy, the estimated mean survival is 2-5 years from the time of diagnosis. […] Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who have concomitant pulmonary hypertension have more dyspnea, greater impairment of their exercise capacity, and increased 1-year mortality compared with their counterparts without pulmonary hypertension. […] Patients who have a greater than 10% decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) (percent predicted) over 6 months have a 2.4-fold increased risk of death. Additionally, in patients who do not desaturate to less than 88% during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the only strong predictor of mortality is a progressive decline in FVC (10% after 6 mo).
  • #39 Prognosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/assistance/diseases/pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-of-the-disease
    The worst prognosis is given when the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses towards respiratory failure in an average of approximately four years after the initial diagnosis. This progression of the disease has a mean survival that varies between two and five years. […] There is a wide variability in the course of the disease in each patient that will depend on factors like the appearance of acute exacerbations in the progression of the disease, or the presence of other diseases. […] During the long-term progression of these diseases, acute exacerbation episodes can occur, characterised by a rapid deterioration of the disease from at least one month of onset, or a respiratory deterioration that leads to significant mortality rates for the patients. […] Several studies have established possible risk factors for the development of acute exacerbations, like the maximum amount of air you can forcibly exhale from your lungs after fully inhaling (Forced Vital Capacity); the increased lung capacity (ILC); low lung diffusing capacity (DLCO); low distance covered in the walk test; deficient oxygenation; baseline level of dyspnoea increased, as well as having presented previous exacerbation episodes or have comorbidities such as pulmonary hypertension, emphysema, or coronary artery disease.
  • #40 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301226-overview
    As idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses, honeycombing becomes more prominent. […] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) portends a poor prognosis. With regard to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis life expectancy, the estimated mean survival is 2-5 years from the time of diagnosis. […] Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who have concomitant pulmonary hypertension have more dyspnea, greater impairment of their exercise capacity, and increased 1-year mortality compared with their counterparts without pulmonary hypertension. […] Patients who have a greater than 10% decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) (percent predicted) over 6 months have a 2.4-fold increased risk of death. Additionally, in patients who do not desaturate to less than 88% during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the only strong predictor of mortality is a progressive decline in FVC (10% after 6 mo).
  • #41 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301226-overview
    A baseline diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) below 35% is correlated with increased mortality. Additionally, a decline in DLCO greater than 15% over 1 year is also associated with increased mortality. […] Desaturation below the threshold of 88% during the 6MWT has been associated with an increased mortality.
  • #42 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301226-overview
    A baseline diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) below 35% is correlated with increased mortality. Additionally, a decline in DLCO greater than 15% over 1 year is also associated with increased mortality. […] Desaturation below the threshold of 88% during the 6MWT has been associated with an increased mortality.
  • #43 Prognosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/assistance/diseases/pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-of-the-disease
    The worst prognosis is given when the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses towards respiratory failure in an average of approximately four years after the initial diagnosis. This progression of the disease has a mean survival that varies between two and five years. […] There is a wide variability in the course of the disease in each patient that will depend on factors like the appearance of acute exacerbations in the progression of the disease, or the presence of other diseases. […] During the long-term progression of these diseases, acute exacerbation episodes can occur, characterised by a rapid deterioration of the disease from at least one month of onset, or a respiratory deterioration that leads to significant mortality rates for the patients. […] Several studies have established possible risk factors for the development of acute exacerbations, like the maximum amount of air you can forcibly exhale from your lungs after fully inhaling (Forced Vital Capacity); the increased lung capacity (ILC); low lung diffusing capacity (DLCO); low distance covered in the walk test; deficient oxygenation; baseline level of dyspnoea increased, as well as having presented previous exacerbation episodes or have comorbidities such as pulmonary hypertension, emphysema, or coronary artery disease.
  • #44 Pulmonary Fibrosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Doctor
    https://patient.info/doctor/pulmonary-fibrosis
    Other signs on examination may include tachypnoea, cyanosis and also signs of cor pulmonale and right heart failure in the later stages. […] The median survival for people with IPF in the UK is approximately 3 -5 years from the time of diagnosis. Survival is reduced in the presence of co-morbidities, with one prospective study of 3,580 patients showing that five-year survival was 53.7% in those with no comorbidities but dropped to 41.1% for those with four or more comorbidities.
  • #45 Prognosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/assistance/diseases/pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-of-the-disease
    The development of pulmonary hypertension causes a deterioration in the quality of life of the patients, higher exertion dyspnoea, reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in respiratory function tests, and less exercise capacity, which is demonstrated by a lower distance covered, and a lower desaturation (when the arterial oxygen saturation decreases by 4% or more) in the walking test. […] The existence of gastro-oesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia, also more common in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, may be a factor in the disease and may represent its progression in association with the presence of pulmonary micro-aspirations. […] Patients with fibrosing DILDs have a high prevalence of Sleep Apnoea – Hypopnoea Syndrome (SAHS) and other respiratory disorders during sleep. […] There is also a higher risk of developing lung cancer in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. The prevalence is from 5-10% and increases with the development of the disease in time and in patients with associated emphysema.
  • #46 Progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: lessons from asymmetrical disease | Thorax
    https://thorax.bmj.com/content/66/3/226
    In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) the distribution and spatial-temporal progression of fibrotic changes may be influenced by general or locoregional conditions. […] Patients with AIPF did not differ from controls in global fibrosis score and forced vital capacity, but carbon monoxide transfer factor was less decreased (5219% vs 4313%, p=0.009). […] The rate of gastro-oesophageal reflux and acute exacerbations was significantly higher in patients with AIPF (62.5% vs 31.3%, p=0.006 and 46.9% vs 17.2%, p=0.004, respectively). […] Although the global fibrosis score worsened significantly in all 23 patients with AIPF with serial high-resolution CT scans (p0.0001), pulmonary fibrosis remained asymmetrical in all except three. […] During follow-up, 15 patients with AIPF experienced 18 acute exacerbations. […] AIPF may be related to locoregional factors including gastro-oesophageal reflux which may be responsible for both disease expansion and the occurrence of acute exacerbations.
  • #47 How Quickly Does Pulmonary Fibrosis Progress? | PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org
    https://pulmonaryfibrosisnow.org/2019/05/22/how-quickly-does-pulmonary-fibrosis-progress/
    You have just been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis(PF), a family of more than 200 serious lung diseases characterized by scarring and thickening of the lung tissue. Undoubtedly, you’ll have many questions about this disease and how it will affect you and your family. Chief among those questions will be “How quickly will this disease progress?” and “What should I expect to happen?” […] Most people diagnosed with PF will experience a progression of the disease over time. In this context, “progression” means your lungs are developing more scar tissue and your symptoms are worsening. It is important to note that there is no typical rate of progression, and the rate will vary depending on a number of factors. […] The rate at which PF progresses can differ significantly from one person to the next. Some people may experience mild to moderate symptoms that worsen slowly over the course of several years; whereas, others may experience “acute exacerbation” in which their symptoms worsen quickly over the course of days or weeks. Still, others may experience extended periods of stability followed by periods of more rapid disease progression.
  • #48 Symptoms of PF | PulmonaryFibrosis360.com
    https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis360.com/nurses/understanding-PF/symptoms-of-pf
    Certain symptoms, including dry cough and shortness of breath, are common to most ILDs that can develop pulmonary fibrosis. Patients should be made aware that pulmonary fibrosis symptoms may gradually develop over months or years, and can vary from person to person, so their symptoms may be different to other patients. […] A dry cough that doesnt get better […] Shortness of breath, especially with mild physical activity […] Fatigue […] For IPF, finger clubbing (widening and rounding of the tips of fingers) […] The presence of Velcro-like crackles when listening to lung sounds should lead to further investigation for fibrotic ILD. […] Pulmonary fibrosis symptoms can be non-specific and shared with other more common conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • #49 How Quickly Does Pulmonary Fibrosis Progress? | PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org
    https://pulmonaryfibrosisnow.org/2019/05/22/how-quickly-does-pulmonary-fibrosis-progress/
    You have just been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis(PF), a family of more than 200 serious lung diseases characterized by scarring and thickening of the lung tissue. Undoubtedly, you’ll have many questions about this disease and how it will affect you and your family. Chief among those questions will be “How quickly will this disease progress?” and “What should I expect to happen?” […] Most people diagnosed with PF will experience a progression of the disease over time. In this context, “progression” means your lungs are developing more scar tissue and your symptoms are worsening. It is important to note that there is no typical rate of progression, and the rate will vary depending on a number of factors. […] The rate at which PF progresses can differ significantly from one person to the next. Some people may experience mild to moderate symptoms that worsen slowly over the course of several years; whereas, others may experience “acute exacerbation” in which their symptoms worsen quickly over the course of days or weeks. Still, others may experience extended periods of stability followed by periods of more rapid disease progression.
  • #50 Pulmonary fibrosis – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353690
    In people with pulmonary fibrosis, especially idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, shortness of breath can suddenly get worse over a few weeks or days. This is called an acute exacerbation. It can be life-threatening. The cause of an acute exacerbation may be another condition or an illness, such as a lung infection. But usually the cause is not known.
  • #51 Pulmonary Fibrosis Progression and Exacerbation | American Lung Association
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis/patients/living-well-with-pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-and-exacerbation
    Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease that naturally gets worse over time. This worsening is related to the amount of fibrosis (scarring) in the lungs. As this occurs, a person’s breathing becomes more difficult, eventually resulting in shortness of breath, even at rest. […] Patients with pulmonary fibrosis experience disease progression at different rates. Some patients progress slowly and live with PF for many years, while others decline more quickly. […] Some patients will experience a sudden worsening of their pulmonary fibrosis, which is referred to as an acute exacerbation. This occurs when there is a triggering event that results in a sudden increase in the processes that lead to scarring. As the lung scarring gets worse, patients have a harder time breathing. The damage to the lungs during an acute exacerbation is permanent.
  • #52 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Clinical Presentation: History, Physical Examination, Complications
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301226-clinical
    A summary of possible symptoms is as follows: Dry cough, Fatigue, Dyspnea (particularly during or after physical activity), Digital clubbing, Weight loss, Leg edema. […] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis carries a poor prognosis, with a median survival of 3.8 years among adults aged 65 years or older in the United States. Although this statistic is disappointing, in practice it is not uncommon for patients to live 5 years or more after receiving the diagnosis. Many patients die from progressive, chronic hypoxemic respiratory failure. […] Each year, approximately 10-20% of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have an acute exacerbation, characterized by worsened hypoxemic respiratory failure, with bilateral ground-glass opacities, consolidation, or both on HRCT imaging that are not fully explained by volume overload. Exacerbations may be triggered by a clinical event (eg, infection, aspiration, drug toxicity) but are frequently idiopathic. Most patients with an acute exacerbation die from acute respiratory failure.
  • #53 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Symptoms | What to Look For
    https://www.nationaljewish.org/conditions/ipf/ipf-overview/symptoms
    Other symptoms include a dry, hacking cough and fatigue is a really under recognized symptom by the medical community. Its very common in patients with IPF. […] Other common symptoms include a dry, hacking cough and fatigue. Symptoms of IPF may develop and worsen gradually or, less commonly, they may also worsen rapidly. Instances of acute IPF worsening occur in about 10 percent of people. This is called an acute exacerbation of IPF. The cause of acute exacerbations is unknown, but lung infections may play a role. […] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is typically a life-shortening condition. Studies have shown that the median survival among people with IPF is 3-5 years from the time of diagnosis. This means that, in those studies, by 3-5 years after diagnosis, 50 percent of people with IPF have died and 50 percent are alive.
  • #54 Complications of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis & Progression
    https://pulmonaryfibrosismd.com/complications-of-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/
    Worsening shortness of breath is a predictable feature of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis as the disease progresses. […] Hypoxia (low oxygen levels) is the rule not the exception as IPF advances. […] Cough is a vexing and common symptom of IPF. […] Flares or exacerbations are discreet episodes of increased respiratory symptoms that evolve over a few days to a couple of weeks. Patients note increased shortness of breath and often cough.
  • #55 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Pulmonary Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition
    https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pulmonary-disorders/interstitial-lung-diseases/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Symptoms and signs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis typically develop over 6 months to several years and include dyspnea on exertion and nonproductive cough. […] The classic sign of IPF is fine, dry, inspiratory crackles (Velcro crackles) at both bases. Clubbing is present in about 50% of cases. […] Most patients have moderate to advanced clinical disease at the time of diagnosis and deteriorate despite treatment. The mortality rate is estimated to be 50 to 70% at 5 years. […] Causes of acute deterioration include infections, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, and heart failure. Also, acute exacerbations without an identifiable cause may occur. All acute exacerbations have a high morbidity and mortality.
  • #56 Pulmonary fibrosis – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353690
    In people with pulmonary fibrosis, especially idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, shortness of breath can suddenly get worse over a few weeks or days. This is called an acute exacerbation. It can be life-threatening. The cause of an acute exacerbation may be another condition or an illness, such as a lung infection. But usually the cause is not known.
  • #57 Burden of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Progression: A 5-Year Longitudinal Follow-Up Study | PLOS One
    https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0166462
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease with an unpredictable course. Patients newly hospitalised for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (ICD-10 code: J84.1) in 2008 were identified and followed for 5 years. Most of patients were hospitalised at least once for one or several acute events (n = 5,635; 87.0% of patients), of whom 36.5% of patients with an acute respiratory worsening (in-hospital mortality of 17.0% and median cost of 3,224; interquartile range (IQR 8896,092)), 43.7% of patients with a respiratory infection (in-hospital mortality of 29.5% and median cost of 5,432 (IQR, 3,6209,115)) and 51.7% of patients with a cardiac event (in-hospital mortality of 35.7% and median cost of 4,584 (IQR, 2,8036,399)); 30.2% of these events occurred during the first hospitalisation. Finally, the 3-year in-hospital mortality crude rate was 36.8%.
  • #58 Pulmonary Fibrosis Progression and Exacerbation | American Lung Association
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis/patients/living-well-with-pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-and-exacerbation
    During an acute exacerbation, many patients require hospitalization. If your exacerbation is severe, you may require ventilator support. This means that you are placed in a machine that acts as your lungs. Patients who are placed on a ventilator during an acute exacerbation are at an increased risk of dying.
  • #59 Pulmonary Fibrosis Progression and Exacerbation | American Lung Association
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis/patients/living-well-with-pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-and-exacerbation
    Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease that naturally gets worse over time. This worsening is related to the amount of fibrosis (scarring) in the lungs. As this occurs, a person’s breathing becomes more difficult, eventually resulting in shortness of breath, even at rest. […] Patients with pulmonary fibrosis experience disease progression at different rates. Some patients progress slowly and live with PF for many years, while others decline more quickly. […] Some patients will experience a sudden worsening of their pulmonary fibrosis, which is referred to as an acute exacerbation. This occurs when there is a triggering event that results in a sudden increase in the processes that lead to scarring. As the lung scarring gets worse, patients have a harder time breathing. The damage to the lungs during an acute exacerbation is permanent.
  • #60 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Causes, Treatment, and More
    https://www.healthline.com/health/managing-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare lung condition that causes the tissue in your lungs to become stiff. This makes it harder for you to take air in and breathe naturally. […] IPF causes scarring and stiffness in your lungs. Over time, the scarring will become severe, and the stiffness will make breathing harder. Common symptoms include: shortness of breath, chronic cough, chest discomfort, weakness, fatigue, weight loss. Eventually, your lungs may not be able to take in enough oxygen to supply your body with the amount it needs. This can ultimately lead to respiratory failure, heart failure, and other health concerns. […] IPF gradually progresses. Some people will also experience disease flares, or periods when breathing is more difficult. The lung damage that takes place during these flares isnt reversible, and youre unlikely to regain any of the lung function you had before the flare.
  • #61
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41030-023-00216-0
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease of unknown aetiology. Patients typically present with symptoms of chronic dyspnoea and cough over a period of months to years. […] The prognosis for people living with IPF remains poor, with a median life expectancy of 35 years from diagnosis if left untreated. […] IPF is usually diagnosed in the sixth or seventh decade of life and is uncommon below the age of 50 years. […] Typically, IPF presents with exertional dyspnoea, dry cough, fatigue and a gradual decline in ability to undertake activities of daily living. Symptoms can be present for many months to years. […] Research also indicates that patients with early IPF (based on pulmonary function test results) have fewer episodes of acute exacerbation than those with advanced disease.
  • #62 Prognosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/assistance/diseases/pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-of-the-disease
    The worst prognosis is given when the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses towards respiratory failure in an average of approximately four years after the initial diagnosis. This progression of the disease has a mean survival that varies between two and five years. […] There is a wide variability in the course of the disease in each patient that will depend on factors like the appearance of acute exacerbations in the progression of the disease, or the presence of other diseases. […] During the long-term progression of these diseases, acute exacerbation episodes can occur, characterised by a rapid deterioration of the disease from at least one month of onset, or a respiratory deterioration that leads to significant mortality rates for the patients. […] Several studies have established possible risk factors for the development of acute exacerbations, like the maximum amount of air you can forcibly exhale from your lungs after fully inhaling (Forced Vital Capacity); the increased lung capacity (ILC); low lung diffusing capacity (DLCO); low distance covered in the walk test; deficient oxygenation; baseline level of dyspnoea increased, as well as having presented previous exacerbation episodes or have comorbidities such as pulmonary hypertension, emphysema, or coronary artery disease.
  • #63
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. […] The symptoms of IPF tend to develop gradually and get slowly worse over time. Symptoms can include: shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss, rounded and swollen fingertips (clubbed fingers). […] IPF gets worse over time, although the speed at which this happens is highly variable. Some people respond well to treatment and remain relatively free of symptoms for many years, while others may get rapidly worse or find the breathlessness debilitating. […] Regular monitoring over time can indicate whether it’s getting worse quickly or slowly.
  • #64 Monitoring Disease Progression in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis | ILD Collaborative
    https://www.ildcollaborative.org/resources/monitoring-disease-progression-in-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    IPF is a disease that progresses over time. […] For some people, the disease gets worse slowly (slowly progressing disease). For other people, the disease gets worse more quickly (rapidly progressing disease). […] Changes in percent predicted FVC score are helpful for monitoring disease progression. […] A drop of less than 10 percentage points is usually called stable disease. […] A decline ranging from 5 percentage points to less than 10 percentage points was not associated with increased risk of death during the study. […] A drop in the percent predicted DLCO score of 15% or more means that lung damage has worsened. […] A decline of 50 meters or more in 6-MWT distance indicates disease progression and an increase in mortality risk.
  • #65 Monitoring Disease Progression in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis | ILD Collaborative
    https://www.ildcollaborative.org/resources/monitoring-disease-progression-in-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    IPF is a disease that progresses over time. […] For some people, the disease gets worse slowly (slowly progressing disease). For other people, the disease gets worse more quickly (rapidly progressing disease). […] Changes in percent predicted FVC score are helpful for monitoring disease progression. […] A drop of less than 10 percentage points is usually called stable disease. […] A decline ranging from 5 percentage points to less than 10 percentage points was not associated with increased risk of death during the study. […] A drop in the percent predicted DLCO score of 15% or more means that lung damage has worsened. […] A decline of 50 meters or more in 6-MWT distance indicates disease progression and an increase in mortality risk.
  • #66 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301226-overview
    As idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses, honeycombing becomes more prominent. […] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) portends a poor prognosis. With regard to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis life expectancy, the estimated mean survival is 2-5 years from the time of diagnosis. […] Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who have concomitant pulmonary hypertension have more dyspnea, greater impairment of their exercise capacity, and increased 1-year mortality compared with their counterparts without pulmonary hypertension. […] Patients who have a greater than 10% decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) (percent predicted) over 6 months have a 2.4-fold increased risk of death. Additionally, in patients who do not desaturate to less than 88% during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the only strong predictor of mortality is a progressive decline in FVC (10% after 6 mo).
  • #67
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41030-023-00216-0
    The current standard of visually assessing HRCT scans to determine IPF disease extent is hindered by inter-observer variation with poor reproducibility. […] Anti-fibrotic medication with pirfenidone or nintedanib is recommended by international guidelines for patients with IPF. […] An early diagnosis of IPF may lead to earlier treatment with anti-fibrotic medications and even though individual clinical trials were not sufficiently powered to demonstrate significant effects on acute exacerbations and mortality, evidence is growing supporting the effects of pirfenidone and nintedanib in decreasing the risk of acute decline in lung function and improving life expectancy by slowing the progression rate of IPF. […] The low rate of treatment has been attributed to a watch and wait approach adopted by both physicians and patients in the context of mild or moderate disease. […] Delayed referral to a specialist centre prevents early initiation of these medications. […] These studies highlight the importance of early diagnosis to allow proper management of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
  • #68 Stages of Pulmonary Fibrosis | American Lung Association
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis/introduction/stages-of-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Pulmonary fibrosis often gets worse over time. No one can predict how fast a patient’s PF will progress. In some people, PF progresses very quickly while others live with the disease for many years. […] Discussing symptoms with your doctor is key to determining the severity of your PF. You might be asked about how frequently you become breathless or how often you cough. Worsening breathlessness and cough don’t always mean the disease has progressed. But knowing your symptoms helps your doctor better understand your particular disease. […] A scoring system was recently developed called the GAP Model which uses Gender, Age and Physiology (and includes your FVC score and diffusing capacity) to stage PF. Not all physicians use this staging system. Science is always advancing so ask your doctor to explain your stage and the tests you may need.
  • #69 What are the stages of pulmonary fibrosis? | Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.actionpf.org/information-support/pulmonary-fibrosis-stages
    Your medical team will monitor your pulmonary fibrosis progression. They may describe your lung disease as mild, moderate or severe based upon your symptoms, lung function tests, six-minute walk test and amount of fibrosis present on CT chest scan. […] Make sure you tell your medical team if your symptoms seem to be getting worse. Look out for the following: youre becoming increasingly breathless, especially with mild physical activity or when you’re sitting or resting; your cough is getting worse or has changed in nature (for example, a dry cough becomes productive of sputum); youre suffering from increased tiredness or generally feeling low; youre experiencing unintended weight loss; youve seen a change in your pattern of breathing (e.g. rapid, shallow breathing); there are any issues that seem to be triggered by your medication.
  • #70 Stages of Pulmonary Fibrosis | American Lung Association
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis/introduction/stages-of-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Pulmonary fibrosis often gets worse over time. No one can predict how fast a patient’s PF will progress. In some people, PF progresses very quickly while others live with the disease for many years. […] Discussing symptoms with your doctor is key to determining the severity of your PF. You might be asked about how frequently you become breathless or how often you cough. Worsening breathlessness and cough don’t always mean the disease has progressed. But knowing your symptoms helps your doctor better understand your particular disease. […] A scoring system was recently developed called the GAP Model which uses Gender, Age and Physiology (and includes your FVC score and diffusing capacity) to stage PF. Not all physicians use this staging system. Science is always advancing so ask your doctor to explain your stage and the tests you may need.
  • #71 Pulmonary Fibrosis Symptoms | Temple Health
    https://www.templehealth.org/services/conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms
    Other symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include: Fatigue, Unexplained weight loss, Rapid, shallow breathing, Clubbing widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes, Bluish discoloration of fingers or toes, caused by low blood oxygen levels, Swelling in the feet or legs. If you have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, it may lead to or occur alongside other problems, including lung infections, blood clots in the lungs and lung cancer. As pulmonary fibrosis becomes more severe, patients may develop other serious conditions, including respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. […] Pulmonary fibrosis symptoms tend to worsen over time, from mild to moderate and severe to very severe. As your condition progresses, you may develop other symptoms such as: Blue discoloration of the fingers or toes, Rapid, shallow breathing, Swelling in the feet and legs, Tiredness, Unexplained weight loss, Widening or rounding of the fingertips or toes, a condition called clubbing. Sometimes pulmonary fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, leads to other serious problems, such as: Blood clots in the lungs, Lung infections, Lung cancer. At its most severe, pulmonary fibrosis can also lead to conditions such as: Respiratory failure, Pulmonary hypertension, Heart failure.
  • #72 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301226-overview
    As idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses, honeycombing becomes more prominent. […] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) portends a poor prognosis. With regard to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis life expectancy, the estimated mean survival is 2-5 years from the time of diagnosis. […] Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who have concomitant pulmonary hypertension have more dyspnea, greater impairment of their exercise capacity, and increased 1-year mortality compared with their counterparts without pulmonary hypertension. […] Patients who have a greater than 10% decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) (percent predicted) over 6 months have a 2.4-fold increased risk of death. Additionally, in patients who do not desaturate to less than 88% during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the only strong predictor of mortality is a progressive decline in FVC (10% after 6 mo).
  • #73 Prognosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/assistance/diseases/pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-of-the-disease
    The development of pulmonary hypertension causes a deterioration in the quality of life of the patients, higher exertion dyspnoea, reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in respiratory function tests, and less exercise capacity, which is demonstrated by a lower distance covered, and a lower desaturation (when the arterial oxygen saturation decreases by 4% or more) in the walking test. […] The existence of gastro-oesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia, also more common in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, may be a factor in the disease and may represent its progression in association with the presence of pulmonary micro-aspirations. […] Patients with fibrosing DILDs have a high prevalence of Sleep Apnoea – Hypopnoea Syndrome (SAHS) and other respiratory disorders during sleep. […] There is also a higher risk of developing lung cancer in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. The prevalence is from 5-10% and increases with the development of the disease in time and in patients with associated emphysema.
  • #74 Interstitial Lung Disease: Stages, Symptoms & Treatment
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17809-interstitial-lung-disease
    Since there are many kinds of interstitial lung diseases, any one case could be mild or very serious. Most kinds of ILD cause irreversible lung damage. The most serious ILDs are progressive, where your condition continues to worsen over time. […] When damage continues to get worse, you can have life-threatening complications, like lung infections and respiratory failure (not enough oxygen or too much carbon dioxide in your body). […] While medications can help bring down inflammation, scarring caused by interstitial lung disease is permanent. If you have an underlying disease, management of it might help prevent further damage. If the cause is unknown, your healthcare provider will treat your symptoms and try to prevent more damage. […] In severe cases of interstitial lung disease, you can have life-threatening complications, including: High blood pressure in your lungs (pulmonary hypertension). […] For people with the most severe and rapidly worsening forms of interstitial lung disease, life expectancy is around 3-5 years after diagnosis.
  • #75 Pulmonary fibrosis – Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_fibrosis
    Symptoms include shortness of breath, a dry cough, feeling tired, weight loss, and nail clubbing. […] Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are mainly: Shortness of breath, particularly with exertion, Chronic dry, hacking coughing, Fatigue and weakness, Chest discomfort, including chest pain, Loss of appetite and rapid weight loss. […] Pulmonary fibrosis is suggested by a history of progressive shortness of breath (dyspnea) with exertion. […] Life expectancy is generally less than five years. […] Treatment options for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are very limited, since no current treatment has stopped the progression of the disease. […] The immune system is thought to play a central role in the development of many forms of pulmonary fibrosis. […] Hypoxia caused by pulmonary fibrosis can lead to pulmonary hypertension, which in turn can lead to heart failure of the right ventricle. […] Since the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths of people with pulmonary fibrosis increased due to the rapid loss of pulmonary function. […] The most common long-term consequence in COVID-19 patients is pulmonary fibrosis.
  • #76 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Lung and Airway Disorders – Merck Manual Consumer Version
    https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/lung-and-airway-disorders/interstitial-lung-diseases/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis affects mostly people over the age of 50 years, usually people who have formerly smoked. […] People may cough, have difficulty breathing, and feel tired. […] Symptoms depend on the extent of the lung damage, the rate at which the disease progresses, and whether complications, such as lung infections and right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale) develop. […] The main symptoms start insidiously as shortness of breath during exertion, cough, and diminished stamina. In most people, symptoms worsen over a period ranging from about 6 months to several years. […] As the disease progresses, the level of oxygen in the blood decreases, and the skin may take on a bluish tinge (called cyanosis) and the ends of the fingers may become thick or club-shaped. […] Strain on the heart may cause the right ventricle to enlarge, eventually resulting in right-sided heart failure.
  • #77 Pulmonary fibrosis – Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_fibrosis
    Symptoms include shortness of breath, a dry cough, feeling tired, weight loss, and nail clubbing. […] Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are mainly: Shortness of breath, particularly with exertion, Chronic dry, hacking coughing, Fatigue and weakness, Chest discomfort, including chest pain, Loss of appetite and rapid weight loss. […] Pulmonary fibrosis is suggested by a history of progressive shortness of breath (dyspnea) with exertion. […] Life expectancy is generally less than five years. […] Treatment options for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are very limited, since no current treatment has stopped the progression of the disease. […] The immune system is thought to play a central role in the development of many forms of pulmonary fibrosis. […] Hypoxia caused by pulmonary fibrosis can lead to pulmonary hypertension, which in turn can lead to heart failure of the right ventricle. […] Since the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths of people with pulmonary fibrosis increased due to the rapid loss of pulmonary function. […] The most common long-term consequence in COVID-19 patients is pulmonary fibrosis.
  • #78 Pulmonary fibrosis – treatment, causes and symptoms | healthdirect
    https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/pulmonary-fibrosis
    Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease where the tissue around the air sacs in the lungs becomes damaged. The most common symptom of pulmonary fibrosis is difficulty breathing. […] The symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis can include: being short of breath at first only when you’re active, but then later when you’re just resting; a dry, hacking cough that does not go away; being tired; losing weight; losing your appetite; having bulging finger or toe tips, known as clubbing; aching joints and muscles. Pulmonary fibrosis symptoms tend to get worse with time. […] There is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis, but there are several treatments available. Treatments can stop or slow the progression of the disease and help improve symptoms. […] Having idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can increase your chance of developing: lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, lung infections, anxiety, depression.
  • #79 Pulmonary Fibrosis Symptoms | Temple Health
    https://www.templehealth.org/services/conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms
    Other symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include: Fatigue, Unexplained weight loss, Rapid, shallow breathing, Clubbing widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes, Bluish discoloration of fingers or toes, caused by low blood oxygen levels, Swelling in the feet or legs. If you have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, it may lead to or occur alongside other problems, including lung infections, blood clots in the lungs and lung cancer. As pulmonary fibrosis becomes more severe, patients may develop other serious conditions, including respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. […] Pulmonary fibrosis symptoms tend to worsen over time, from mild to moderate and severe to very severe. As your condition progresses, you may develop other symptoms such as: Blue discoloration of the fingers or toes, Rapid, shallow breathing, Swelling in the feet and legs, Tiredness, Unexplained weight loss, Widening or rounding of the fingertips or toes, a condition called clubbing. Sometimes pulmonary fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, leads to other serious problems, such as: Blood clots in the lungs, Lung infections, Lung cancer. At its most severe, pulmonary fibrosis can also lead to conditions such as: Respiratory failure, Pulmonary hypertension, Heart failure.
  • #80 Prognosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/assistance/diseases/pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-of-the-disease
    The development of pulmonary hypertension causes a deterioration in the quality of life of the patients, higher exertion dyspnoea, reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in respiratory function tests, and less exercise capacity, which is demonstrated by a lower distance covered, and a lower desaturation (when the arterial oxygen saturation decreases by 4% or more) in the walking test. […] The existence of gastro-oesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia, also more common in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, may be a factor in the disease and may represent its progression in association with the presence of pulmonary micro-aspirations. […] Patients with fibrosing DILDs have a high prevalence of Sleep Apnoea – Hypopnoea Syndrome (SAHS) and other respiratory disorders during sleep. […] There is also a higher risk of developing lung cancer in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. The prevalence is from 5-10% and increases with the development of the disease in time and in patients with associated emphysema.
  • #81 Pulmonary fibrosis – treatment, causes and symptoms | healthdirect
    https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/pulmonary-fibrosis
    Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease where the tissue around the air sacs in the lungs becomes damaged. The most common symptom of pulmonary fibrosis is difficulty breathing. […] The symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis can include: being short of breath at first only when you’re active, but then later when you’re just resting; a dry, hacking cough that does not go away; being tired; losing weight; losing your appetite; having bulging finger or toe tips, known as clubbing; aching joints and muscles. Pulmonary fibrosis symptoms tend to get worse with time. […] There is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis, but there are several treatments available. Treatments can stop or slow the progression of the disease and help improve symptoms. […] Having idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can increase your chance of developing: lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, lung infections, anxiety, depression.
  • #82 Prognosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/assistance/diseases/pulmonary-fibrosis/progression-of-the-disease
    The development of pulmonary hypertension causes a deterioration in the quality of life of the patients, higher exertion dyspnoea, reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in respiratory function tests, and less exercise capacity, which is demonstrated by a lower distance covered, and a lower desaturation (when the arterial oxygen saturation decreases by 4% or more) in the walking test. […] The existence of gastro-oesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia, also more common in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, may be a factor in the disease and may represent its progression in association with the presence of pulmonary micro-aspirations. […] Patients with fibrosing DILDs have a high prevalence of Sleep Apnoea – Hypopnoea Syndrome (SAHS) and other respiratory disorders during sleep. […] There is also a higher risk of developing lung cancer in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. The prevalence is from 5-10% and increases with the development of the disease in time and in patients with associated emphysema.
  • #83 Pulmonary Fibrosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Doctor
    https://patient.info/doctor/pulmonary-fibrosis
    The diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis should be considered in any patient presenting with breathlessness, especially if there is a pre-existing medical history or environmental exposure possibly associated with pulmonary fibrosis (see above). […] Features suggesting the possibility of IPF include: Age over 45 years. Persistent breathlessness on exertion. Persistent dry cough. Bilateral inspiratory crackles on auscultation of the chest. Clubbing of the fingers. Normal spirometry or impaired spirometry usually with a restrictive pattern but sometimes with an obstructive pattern. […] Patients may be systemically unwell and may have a flu-like illness, fatigue or weight loss at presentation. Extrapulmonary features may include arthralgia, muscle pains and skin rashes. Obstructive sleep apnoea may be a common presenting feature.
  • #84 Pulmonary Fibrosis – What Is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis? | NHLBI, NIH
    https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a serious chronic (long term) disease that affects the tissue surrounding the air sacs, or alveoli, in the lungs. […] The most common symptoms of IPF are shortness of breath and cough. Some people may not have symptoms at first, but symptoms can develop and get worse as the disease progresses. […] The way that IPF progresses varies from person to person, and scarring may happen slowly or quickly. In some people, the disease stays the same for years. In other people, the condition quickly gets worse. Many people with IPF also experience what are known as acute exacerbations, where symptoms suddenly become much more serious. […] There is currently no cure for IPF. However, certain treatments may slow the progression of IPF and help your lungs work better.
  • #85
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/treatment/
    There’s currently no cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The main aim of treatment is to relieve the symptoms as much as possible and slow down its progression. […] There are 2 medicines that can help slow down the progression of IPF in some people: pirfenidone and nintedanib. […] Nintedanib is a newer medicine that can also help slow down scarring of the lungs in some people with IPF. […] IPF can cause levels of oxygen in your blood to fall, which can make you feel more breathless. […] If your condition continues to get worse despite treatment, your specialist may recommend a lung transplant. […] A lung transplant can significantly improve life expectancy in people with IPF, although it’s a major procedure that puts a great strain on the body.
  • #86 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Lung Health Foundation – Symptoms
    https://lunghealth.ca/lung-disease/a-to-z/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/
    There are no medications that cure IPF or decrease the amount of scarring in the lungs. Some medications help slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. […] Pirfenidone is an anti-scarring (anti-fibrotic) medication that slows the progression of IPF. Some patients taking pirfenidone have side effects, most commonly stomach upset and skin rash, particularly with exposure to sun. […] Nintedanib is an anti-scarring (anti-fibrotic) medication that slows progression of IPF. Some patients taking nintedanib have side effects, most commonly including diarrhea. […] Pulmonary rehabilitation is an exercise and educational program designed just for patients with lung disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation can help in teaching patients with IPF how to breathe more efficiently and to perform their activities of daily living with less breathlessness. […] Lung transplant is not right for everyone, but it may be a treatment option for some people. It is important to work with your doctor to see if lung transplant is an option for you.
  • #87
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/treatment/
    There’s currently no cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The main aim of treatment is to relieve the symptoms as much as possible and slow down its progression. […] There are 2 medicines that can help slow down the progression of IPF in some people: pirfenidone and nintedanib. […] Nintedanib is a newer medicine that can also help slow down scarring of the lungs in some people with IPF. […] IPF can cause levels of oxygen in your blood to fall, which can make you feel more breathless. […] If your condition continues to get worse despite treatment, your specialist may recommend a lung transplant. […] A lung transplant can significantly improve life expectancy in people with IPF, although it’s a major procedure that puts a great strain on the body.
  • #88 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Lung Health Foundation – Symptoms
    https://lunghealth.ca/lung-disease/a-to-z/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/
    There are no medications that cure IPF or decrease the amount of scarring in the lungs. Some medications help slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. […] Pirfenidone is an anti-scarring (anti-fibrotic) medication that slows the progression of IPF. Some patients taking pirfenidone have side effects, most commonly stomach upset and skin rash, particularly with exposure to sun. […] Nintedanib is an anti-scarring (anti-fibrotic) medication that slows progression of IPF. Some patients taking nintedanib have side effects, most commonly including diarrhea. […] Pulmonary rehabilitation is an exercise and educational program designed just for patients with lung disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation can help in teaching patients with IPF how to breathe more efficiently and to perform their activities of daily living with less breathlessness. […] Lung transplant is not right for everyone, but it may be a treatment option for some people. It is important to work with your doctor to see if lung transplant is an option for you.
  • #89
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/treatment/
    There’s currently no cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The main aim of treatment is to relieve the symptoms as much as possible and slow down its progression. […] There are 2 medicines that can help slow down the progression of IPF in some people: pirfenidone and nintedanib. […] Nintedanib is a newer medicine that can also help slow down scarring of the lungs in some people with IPF. […] IPF can cause levels of oxygen in your blood to fall, which can make you feel more breathless. […] If your condition continues to get worse despite treatment, your specialist may recommend a lung transplant. […] A lung transplant can significantly improve life expectancy in people with IPF, although it’s a major procedure that puts a great strain on the body.
  • #90 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Lung Health Foundation – Symptoms
    https://lunghealth.ca/lung-disease/a-to-z/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/
    There are no medications that cure IPF or decrease the amount of scarring in the lungs. Some medications help slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. […] Pirfenidone is an anti-scarring (anti-fibrotic) medication that slows the progression of IPF. Some patients taking pirfenidone have side effects, most commonly stomach upset and skin rash, particularly with exposure to sun. […] Nintedanib is an anti-scarring (anti-fibrotic) medication that slows progression of IPF. Some patients taking nintedanib have side effects, most commonly including diarrhea. […] Pulmonary rehabilitation is an exercise and educational program designed just for patients with lung disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation can help in teaching patients with IPF how to breathe more efficiently and to perform their activities of daily living with less breathlessness. […] Lung transplant is not right for everyone, but it may be a treatment option for some people. It is important to work with your doctor to see if lung transplant is an option for you.
  • #91 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Lung Health Foundation – Symptoms
    https://lunghealth.ca/lung-disease/a-to-z/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/
    There is no cure for IPF and there are currently no procedures or medications that can remove the scarring from the lungs. Treatments are used to slow progression of the lung scarring, and may not necessarily lessen the symptoms of cough and breathlessness. […] IPF is an irreversible, progressive disease. So it is important to learn good coping skills and educate yourself about the disease as much as possible. […] The scarring in the lungs can prevent oxygen from being absorbed into your body. Low oxygen levels can make you feel short of breath and tired. If your blood oxygen levels are too low, your doctor may prescribe supplemental oxygen (home oxygen). This helps to reduce breathlessness and can help you be more active. Some people with IPF may need oxygen therapy all the time, while others may only need it during exercise or sleep.
  • #92 What are the stages of pulmonary fibrosis? | Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.actionpf.org/information-support/pulmonary-fibrosis-stages
    If your disease progresses, you may be offered oxygen therapy. Many people live well with oxygen treatment. […] Currently, there is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis. As the fibrosis progresses, the lungs can fail and it is likely you will eventually die from pulmonary fibrosis or a complication of it. […] My advice to patients with IPF, from my own experience, is don’t assume that any deterioration in your condition is normal and just the progression of the disease. Talk to your medical team.
  • #93
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/treatment/
    There’s currently no cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The main aim of treatment is to relieve the symptoms as much as possible and slow down its progression. […] There are 2 medicines that can help slow down the progression of IPF in some people: pirfenidone and nintedanib. […] Nintedanib is a newer medicine that can also help slow down scarring of the lungs in some people with IPF. […] IPF can cause levels of oxygen in your blood to fall, which can make you feel more breathless. […] If your condition continues to get worse despite treatment, your specialist may recommend a lung transplant. […] A lung transplant can significantly improve life expectancy in people with IPF, although it’s a major procedure that puts a great strain on the body.
  • #94 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Lung Health Foundation – Symptoms
    https://lunghealth.ca/lung-disease/a-to-z/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/
    There are no medications that cure IPF or decrease the amount of scarring in the lungs. Some medications help slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. […] Pirfenidone is an anti-scarring (anti-fibrotic) medication that slows the progression of IPF. Some patients taking pirfenidone have side effects, most commonly stomach upset and skin rash, particularly with exposure to sun. […] Nintedanib is an anti-scarring (anti-fibrotic) medication that slows progression of IPF. Some patients taking nintedanib have side effects, most commonly including diarrhea. […] Pulmonary rehabilitation is an exercise and educational program designed just for patients with lung disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation can help in teaching patients with IPF how to breathe more efficiently and to perform their activities of daily living with less breathlessness. […] Lung transplant is not right for everyone, but it may be a treatment option for some people. It is important to work with your doctor to see if lung transplant is an option for you.
  • #95 Early Symptoms | ILD Collaborative
    https://www.ildcollaborative.org/resources/ipf-patient-journey/early-symptoms
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) mainly affects people who are over the age of 50. IPF is rare, affecting fewer than 5 people out of every 10,000 people. It often starts with vague, annoying symptoms that do not seem very serious. People with early IPF may become breathless when walking upstairs, or climbing a hill. They may develop a nagging, dry cough. They may feel tired, even after a full nights sleep. Many people with early symptoms think that their symptoms are just a normal part of aging. […] It is important to take these early symptoms of IPF seriously. Feeling breathless or having a nagging cough are not a normal part of aging. Although IPF has no cure, treatments are available that can slow down lung damage, improve symptoms, and improve quality of life. These treatments work best when the condition is diagnosed early.
  • #96
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41030-023-00216-0
    The current standard of visually assessing HRCT scans to determine IPF disease extent is hindered by inter-observer variation with poor reproducibility. […] Anti-fibrotic medication with pirfenidone or nintedanib is recommended by international guidelines for patients with IPF. […] An early diagnosis of IPF may lead to earlier treatment with anti-fibrotic medications and even though individual clinical trials were not sufficiently powered to demonstrate significant effects on acute exacerbations and mortality, evidence is growing supporting the effects of pirfenidone and nintedanib in decreasing the risk of acute decline in lung function and improving life expectancy by slowing the progression rate of IPF. […] The low rate of treatment has been attributed to a watch and wait approach adopted by both physicians and patients in the context of mild or moderate disease. […] Delayed referral to a specialist centre prevents early initiation of these medications. […] These studies highlight the importance of early diagnosis to allow proper management of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
  • #97
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41030-023-00216-0
    The current standard of visually assessing HRCT scans to determine IPF disease extent is hindered by inter-observer variation with poor reproducibility. […] Anti-fibrotic medication with pirfenidone or nintedanib is recommended by international guidelines for patients with IPF. […] An early diagnosis of IPF may lead to earlier treatment with anti-fibrotic medications and even though individual clinical trials were not sufficiently powered to demonstrate significant effects on acute exacerbations and mortality, evidence is growing supporting the effects of pirfenidone and nintedanib in decreasing the risk of acute decline in lung function and improving life expectancy by slowing the progression rate of IPF. […] The low rate of treatment has been attributed to a watch and wait approach adopted by both physicians and patients in the context of mild or moderate disease. […] Delayed referral to a specialist centre prevents early initiation of these medications. […] These studies highlight the importance of early diagnosis to allow proper management of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
  • #98 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Symptoms | What to Look For
    https://www.nationaljewish.org/conditions/ipf/ipf-overview/symptoms
    Other symptoms include a dry, hacking cough and fatigue is a really under recognized symptom by the medical community. Its very common in patients with IPF. […] Other common symptoms include a dry, hacking cough and fatigue. Symptoms of IPF may develop and worsen gradually or, less commonly, they may also worsen rapidly. Instances of acute IPF worsening occur in about 10 percent of people. This is called an acute exacerbation of IPF. The cause of acute exacerbations is unknown, but lung infections may play a role. […] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is typically a life-shortening condition. Studies have shown that the median survival among people with IPF is 3-5 years from the time of diagnosis. This means that, in those studies, by 3-5 years after diagnosis, 50 percent of people with IPF have died and 50 percent are alive.
  • #99 Pulmonary Fibrosis Causes, Symptoms, Stages & Life Expectancy
    https://www.medicinenet.com/pulmonary_fibrosis/article.htm
    The prognosis of pulmonary fibrosis is poor with patients typically surviving for less than 5 years. […] The progress of the disease varies from person to person, but often people diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis live about three to five years following their diagnosis. […] Signs and symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include: Shortness of breath (dyspnea), including shortness of breath with everyday activities, Coughing (chronic, dry, hacking cough), Diminished exercise tolerance, Fast, shallow breathing, Fatigue/tiredness, Weakness, Chest discomfort, Muscle and joint aches, Loss of appetite, Unexplained/unintended weight loss, „Clubbing” of the tips of the fingers and toes (thickening of flesh under the nails, causing a widening and rounding appearance). […] Symptoms vary depending on the cause of pulmonary fibrosis. The severity of symptoms and the progression (worsening) of symptoms over time can vary.
  • #100 Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis | Healthify
    https://healthify.nz/health-a-z/i/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    IPF is a specific type of a number of long-term diseases that affect the lungs. […] It develops when lung tissue becomes scarred stiff and thickened causing breathing difficulties. […] The scarring is progressive and irreversible so most people with IPF get worse over time. But each person experiences IPF differently. Some people can remain stable for many years while others get worse quickly. […] The symptoms of IPF tend to develop gradually and slowly get worse over time. […] Symptoms can include: shortness of breath especially with activity such as walking up hills or stairs, a persistent dry or hacking cough, tiredness, fatigue and weakness, loss of appetite and weight loss, wide, rounded and swollen fingertips (clubbed fingers). […] Many people ignore their breathlessness at first and blame it on getting old or being out of shape. But eventually even light activity, such as getting dressed, can cause shortness of breath.
  • #101 Stages of Pulmonary Fibrosis | American Lung Association
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis/introduction/stages-of-pulmonary-fibrosis
    Pulmonary fibrosis often gets worse over time. No one can predict how fast a patient’s PF will progress. In some people, PF progresses very quickly while others live with the disease for many years. […] Discussing symptoms with your doctor is key to determining the severity of your PF. You might be asked about how frequently you become breathless or how often you cough. Worsening breathlessness and cough don’t always mean the disease has progressed. But knowing your symptoms helps your doctor better understand your particular disease. […] A scoring system was recently developed called the GAP Model which uses Gender, Age and Physiology (and includes your FVC score and diffusing capacity) to stage PF. Not all physicians use this staging system. Science is always advancing so ask your doctor to explain your stage and the tests you may need.
  • #102 Disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with mild physiological impairment: analysis from the Australian IPF registry | BMC Pulmonary Medicine | Full Text
    https://bmcpulmmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12890-018-0575-y
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal fibrosing lung disease of unknown cause. […] Patients who were mild had longer survival, regardless of how mild physiologic impairment was defined. […] IPF patients with mild physiological impairment have better survival than patients with moderate-severe disease. Their overall rate of disease progression however, is comparable, suggesting that they are simply at different points in the natural history of IPF disease. […] There was no difference in the annual rate of FVC% predicted decline between the mild and moderate-severe cohorts, regardless of the disease severity classification used, with the predicted annual fall for the entire cohort calculated at 4.4 units (of FVC % predicted)/year. […] The only factor that predicted death or progression at 12 months was oxygen desaturation during 6 min walk testing at baseline.
  • #103 Pulmonary Fibrosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Doctor
    https://patient.info/doctor/pulmonary-fibrosis
    Other signs on examination may include tachypnoea, cyanosis and also signs of cor pulmonale and right heart failure in the later stages. […] The median survival for people with IPF in the UK is approximately 3 -5 years from the time of diagnosis. Survival is reduced in the presence of co-morbidities, with one prospective study of 3,580 patients showing that five-year survival was 53.7% in those with no comorbidities but dropped to 41.1% for those with four or more comorbidities.
  • #104
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. […] The symptoms of IPF tend to develop gradually and get slowly worse over time. Symptoms can include: shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss, rounded and swollen fingertips (clubbed fingers). […] IPF gets worse over time, although the speed at which this happens is highly variable. Some people respond well to treatment and remain relatively free of symptoms for many years, while others may get rapidly worse or find the breathlessness debilitating. […] Regular monitoring over time can indicate whether it’s getting worse quickly or slowly.
  • #105 Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) | nidirect
    https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-ipf
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. The symptoms of IPF tend to develop gradually and get slowly worse over time. Symptoms can include: shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss, rounded and swollen fingertips (clubbed fingers). Many people ignore their breathlessness at first and blame it on getting old or being out of shape. But eventually even light activity such as getting dressed can cause shortness of breath. IPF gets worse over time, although the speed at which this happens is highly variable. Some people respond well to treatment. They will stay almost completely free of symptoms for many years. Others may get rapidly worse or find the breathlessness debilitating. It’s very difficult to predict how long someone with IPF will survive at the time of diagnosis. Regular monitoring over time can show whether it’s getting worse quickly or slowly. It’s hoped these figures will be improved by the availability of new treatments to slow the disease’s progression.
  • #106 Progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: lessons from asymmetrical disease | Thorax
    https://thorax.bmj.com/content/66/3/226
    In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) the distribution and spatial-temporal progression of fibrotic changes may be influenced by general or locoregional conditions. […] Patients with AIPF did not differ from controls in global fibrosis score and forced vital capacity, but carbon monoxide transfer factor was less decreased (5219% vs 4313%, p=0.009). […] The rate of gastro-oesophageal reflux and acute exacerbations was significantly higher in patients with AIPF (62.5% vs 31.3%, p=0.006 and 46.9% vs 17.2%, p=0.004, respectively). […] Although the global fibrosis score worsened significantly in all 23 patients with AIPF with serial high-resolution CT scans (p0.0001), pulmonary fibrosis remained asymmetrical in all except three. […] During follow-up, 15 patients with AIPF experienced 18 acute exacerbations. […] AIPF may be related to locoregional factors including gastro-oesophageal reflux which may be responsible for both disease expansion and the occurrence of acute exacerbations.
  • #107 Pulmonary Fibrosis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10959-pulmonary-fibrosis
    No, there isn’t a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Treatment focuses on easing symptoms, slowing down progression, and improving your quality of life. […] Healthcare providers can’t easily predict how pulmonary fibrosis will progress. Your symptoms may get worse very slowly, over years. In some cases, the disease may lead to severe symptoms quickly (over months). […] The life expectancy of someone with the most common form, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, is three to five years. But life expectancies for people with PF have been getting longer in recent years.
  • #108 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, IPF: Symptoms And Prevalence
    https://blog.leapcure.com/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-symptoms-how-common-ipf/
    IPF is a progressive lung disease that affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States, with around 30,000 to 40,000 new cases each year. This chronic condition primarily impacts individuals between the ages of 50 and 70, causing lung scarring that makes breathing increasingly difficult. […] While there is no cure for this progressive lung condition, current treatments aim to slow its progression and improve quality of life. Approved medications, such as nintedanib (Ofev) and pirfenidone (Esbriet), have been shown to reduce the rate of lung function decline. […] Many patients report that adapting to oxygen therapy devices, managing activity limitations, and coping with fatigue require significant lifestyle adjustments. […] Beyond the medical aspects, living with this progressive lung condition presents daily challenges that impact quality of life.
  • #109 IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis)
    https://www.svhlunghealth.com.au/conditions/ipf-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
    The two most common signs of IPF are: […] A prolonged, dry cough most people with IPF have a cough which lasts more than 8 weeks […] Breathlessness shortness of breath appears during exercise, and as the scarring gets worst, you may feel breathless while resting, too. […] Other symptoms of IPF can include: […] Body aches in the muscles and joints […] Clubbing a widening and rounding of the fingertips and toes […] Fatigue feeling tired and having no energy […] Unexplained weight loss. […] IPF worsens over time, so an early diagnosis is essential. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the sooner you can start treatment that slows the progression of the disease. […] Currently, there is no cure for IPF. Once present in the lung, scarring cannot be reversed or removed. IPF treatments aim to slow the progression of the disease, manage physical symptoms and improve quality of life. […] Some people with IPF get sick very quickly. Others may progress slowly.
  • #110 IPF Symptoms: Weight Loss, Clubbing, Fatigue, and More
    https://www.healthline.com/health/managing-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/hidden-ipf-warning-signs
    A hacking cough and breathlessness are two of the most common symptoms, but there are many other possible symptoms. […] People with IPF sometimes lose their appetite and, in turn, lose weight unintentionally. […] Clubbing of the fingers and toes happens when your body is receiving less oxygen through the bloodstream. […] Fatigue is one of the most difficult aspects of the condition. […] For some with IPF, coughing is worse at night. It makes getting restful sleep difficult. […] Coughing can also result in aches and pains in your muscles and joints. […] IPF may cause edema, or swelling, in your extremities. […] Early diagnosis is key with IPF. The sooner you find out you have the condition, the sooner you can try to slow its progression and ease your symptoms.
  • #111 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Symptoms | Esbriet® (pirfenidone)
    https://www.esbriet.com/about/how-does-ipf-affect-me.html
    IPF reduces lung function by causing permanent scarring around parts of the lungs. This scarring keeps the lungs from breathing in and transporting as much oxygen as they used to. […] With IPF, once damage occurs, it cannot be undone. That is why it is important to slow your IPF from progressing. The goal of treatment is to help slow progression of the disease. […] Many people only learn that they have IPF after experiencing symptoms for quite some time, or even after the disease has already progressed. […] Understanding the common signs and symptoms of IPF and discussing them with your doctor can often help to detect IPF early and give you more time to work with your doctor on a treatment plan. […] Early symptoms of IPF include an ongoing cough that does not produce any phlegm, feeling tired or weak, having shortness of breath, even during normal daily activities, and a doctor may also hear Velcro-like crackles at the bottom of your lungs.
  • #112 Symptoms of PF | PulmonaryFibrosis360.com
    https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis360.com/nurses/understanding-PF/symptoms-of-pf
    Initial symptoms of fibrotic ILDs, such as dry cough and dyspnea, can be nonspecific, promptly refer your patients to specialist doctors for further investigations when pulmonary fibrosis is suspected. […] It may be difficult for patients with underlying systemic diseases to identify whether their symptoms are caused by pulmonary fibrosis, or by the underlying disease and associated treatment. […] Patients rarely describe breathlessness as shortness of breath or breathlessness, so it is important to understand patients language and listen out for hints that may help you identify fibrotic ILDs in your patients.
  • #113 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis | AAFP
    https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/care-resources/respiratory-health/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis.html
    Pulmonary function tests are integral to monitoring progression of IPF and staging of disease severity. The results may also be helpful in establishing an initial diagnosis of IPF. The forced vital capacity (FVC), and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide are usually decreased, but these values may be normal early in the disease course. […] The course of IPF is unpredictable, and many people experience acute exacerbations of the disease. In one study, 72% of 1,735 patients with IPF sought urgent, outpatient care because of a suspected exacerbation of the disease, and 39% of the patients had at least one all-cause hospitalization. These disease-related interruptions diminish patients quality of life. […] Patients with IPF have reported that the most troublesome symptoms are dyspnea, severe coughing, and persistent fatigue. Limited mobility is also an issue. One study reported that individuals with IPF were sedentary for more than nine hours per day. […] Diagnosing IPF is challenging, but guidelines are available to help primary care physicians identify patients with IPF and make earlier referrals. Early referral means earlier treatment, which can help improve patient outcomes.
  • #114 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis | AAFP
    https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/care-resources/respiratory-health/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis.html
    Pulmonary function tests are integral to monitoring progression of IPF and staging of disease severity. The results may also be helpful in establishing an initial diagnosis of IPF. The forced vital capacity (FVC), and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide are usually decreased, but these values may be normal early in the disease course. […] The course of IPF is unpredictable, and many people experience acute exacerbations of the disease. In one study, 72% of 1,735 patients with IPF sought urgent, outpatient care because of a suspected exacerbation of the disease, and 39% of the patients had at least one all-cause hospitalization. These disease-related interruptions diminish patients quality of life. […] Patients with IPF have reported that the most troublesome symptoms are dyspnea, severe coughing, and persistent fatigue. Limited mobility is also an issue. One study reported that individuals with IPF were sedentary for more than nine hours per day. […] Diagnosing IPF is challenging, but guidelines are available to help primary care physicians identify patients with IPF and make earlier referrals. Early referral means earlier treatment, which can help improve patient outcomes.
  • #115
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41030-023-00216-0
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease of unknown aetiology. Patients typically present with symptoms of chronic dyspnoea and cough over a period of months to years. […] The prognosis for people living with IPF remains poor, with a median life expectancy of 35 years from diagnosis if left untreated. […] IPF is usually diagnosed in the sixth or seventh decade of life and is uncommon below the age of 50 years. […] Typically, IPF presents with exertional dyspnoea, dry cough, fatigue and a gradual decline in ability to undertake activities of daily living. Symptoms can be present for many months to years. […] Research also indicates that patients with early IPF (based on pulmonary function test results) have fewer episodes of acute exacerbation than those with advanced disease.
  • #116 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Symptoms | Esbriet® (pirfenidone)
    https://www.esbriet.com/about/how-does-ipf-affect-me.html
    IPF reduces lung function by causing permanent scarring around parts of the lungs. This scarring keeps the lungs from breathing in and transporting as much oxygen as they used to. […] With IPF, once damage occurs, it cannot be undone. That is why it is important to slow your IPF from progressing. The goal of treatment is to help slow progression of the disease. […] Many people only learn that they have IPF after experiencing symptoms for quite some time, or even after the disease has already progressed. […] Understanding the common signs and symptoms of IPF and discussing them with your doctor can often help to detect IPF early and give you more time to work with your doctor on a treatment plan. […] Early symptoms of IPF include an ongoing cough that does not produce any phlegm, feeling tired or weak, having shortness of breath, even during normal daily activities, and a doctor may also hear Velcro-like crackles at the bottom of your lungs.
  • #117 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Symptoms | Esbriet® (pirfenidone)
    https://www.esbriet.com/about/how-does-ipf-affect-me.html
    IPF reduces lung function by causing permanent scarring around parts of the lungs. This scarring keeps the lungs from breathing in and transporting as much oxygen as they used to. […] With IPF, once damage occurs, it cannot be undone. That is why it is important to slow your IPF from progressing. The goal of treatment is to help slow progression of the disease. […] Many people only learn that they have IPF after experiencing symptoms for quite some time, or even after the disease has already progressed. […] Understanding the common signs and symptoms of IPF and discussing them with your doctor can often help to detect IPF early and give you more time to work with your doctor on a treatment plan. […] Early symptoms of IPF include an ongoing cough that does not produce any phlegm, feeling tired or weak, having shortness of breath, even during normal daily activities, and a doctor may also hear Velcro-like crackles at the bottom of your lungs.