Management
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT OF IPF
Recommendations for management of IPF include the following. Most patients should begin pulmonary rehabilitation.1 Those with clinically significant resting hypoxemia should begin long-term oxygen therapy.1 Also, patients should be considered and evaluated for lung transplant in a timely manner.1 All patients should be made aware of available medications and clinical trials for possible enrollment.1 And, patients should receive a yearly flu vaccine.2
COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH IPF INCLUDES SEVERAL PATIENT-CENTRIC AREAS3
DISEASE-CENTERED MANAGEMENT
- Smoking cessation
- Managing comorbidities
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Supplemental oxygen
- FDA-approved pharmacologic therapies
- Lung transplant
SUPPORT-CENTERED MANAGEMENT
- Educational support
- Support group services
SYMPTOM-CENTERED MANAGEMENT
- Chronic cough
- Dyspnea
- Fatigue/deconditioning
- Depression and anxiety
- Sleep disturbance
REFERENCES
- Raghu G, Collard HR, Egan JJ, et al. An official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT statement: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and management. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;183(6):788-824. doi: 10.1164/rccm.2009-040GL.
- ATS Patient Information Series: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011; 183: P1-P2. Available at https://www.thoracic.org/patient-resources/resources/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis.pdf/ Accessed January 4, 2017.
- Lee JS, McLaughlin S, Collard HR. Comprehensive care of the patient with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2011;17(5):348-354. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0b013e328349721b.
