What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

• IPF is a progressive, fatal disease that typically affects adults over 60 years of age,² with a median survival of 3.8 years from diagnosis, generally the shortest of all ILDs^3,a
• IPF is more common in men than women³
• Most patients with IPF have a history of cigarette smoking^2,4
• Most patients experience a progressive decline, though the disease course is variable⁴
• As fibrosis progresses, patients will become more breathless, less mobile, and less independent⁵
• Patients may experience periods of sudden respiratory decline termed acute exacerbations of IPF,⁶ which are associated with a high mortality rate^7-9
• Symptoms are nonspecific, but patients often present with chronic exertional dyspnea and a dry, nonproductive cough⁶
  • The average time from symptom onset to diagnosis is 1-2 years^10-12
• Diagnosis of IPF is difficult, often requiring discussion between pulmonologists, radiologists, and pathologists^6,13
  • Diagnosis requires a comprehensive patient evaluation including a detailed medical history, exclusion of other possible causes of lung disease, pulmonary function testing, HRCT, and in some cases, surgical lung biopsy⁶
• Comprehensive care includes disease-focused, symptom-focused, and support-focused management¹⁴

ªIn the Medicare population