Clinical course and prediction of survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011 Feb 15;183(4):431-40. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201006-0894CI. Epub 2010 Oct 8.

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, life-threatening, interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology. The median survival of patients with IPF is only 2 to 3 years, yet some patients live much longer. Respiratory failure resulting from disease progression is the most frequent cause of death. To date we have limited information as to predictors of mortality in patients with IPF, and research in this area has failed to yield prediction models that can be reliably used in clinical practice to predict individual risk of mortality. The goal of this concise clinical review is to examine and summarize the current data on the clinical course, individual predictors of survival, and proposed clinical prediction models in IPF. Finally, we will discuss challenges and future directions related to predicting survival in IPF.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cause of Death
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / mortality*
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Analysis