Dry cough and shortness of breath persistent idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, average survival time of only 3-5 years
Mar 23, 2025
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Although the domestic prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is known to be around 40 per 100,000 people, it is by no means a rare disease, with one out of every 500 to 1,500 people limited to the population aged 65 or older.
Professor Kim Kyung-hoon of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the Catholic University of Korea's Incheon St. Mary's Hospital said, `Although idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a rare disease, it is increasing to the point that it cannot be called a rare disease, and we should think that it can be suffered by anyone"Early diagnosis and treatment are the best countermeasures as there is no fundamental treatment yet."
◇The cause and treatment are unclear...The average survival time is only 3 to 5 years
As the name suggests, the exact cause has not yet been identified. However, along with genetic factors, there is a possibility that environmental factors such as dust, smoking, and pollutants, immunological factors, and radiation exposure will work in combination.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has no way to reverse fibrosis itself, so there is no fundamental cure so far. However, anti-fibrotic agents (firphenidone, nintedanib) that slow the progression of lung fibrosis have been developed, helping to suppress the progression of the disease and prolong the patient's survival.
In particular, Nintedanib's generic drug is expected to be released soon, which is expected to expand drug access for domestic patients. However, these drugs are also not effective for all patients. Professor Kim Kyung-hoon said "In recent years, the development of new drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has been actively underway worldwide, so better treatment results are expected in the future."
The main symptom of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is dyspnea during exercise. As the disease progresses, a dry cough becomes worse and shortness of breath worsens, which can lead to hypoxia. In addition, there is a phenomenon in which the tips of the fingers are rounded, which occurs when hypoxia is prolonged. It usually occurs in the elderly, and it is more found in people who have smoked after their 50s.
Professor Kim Kyung-hoon said, `The initial symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are similar to common respiratory diseases such as dry cough and shortness of breath, so it is easy to overlook.' `For this reason, when visiting the actual hospital, lung fibrosis has already progressed to a large extent.'
◇ If suspected, perform high-resolution chest CT... Prepare for a decline in quality of life
For early diagnosis, if you have symptoms such as persistent cough or difficulty breathing during exercise, it is recommended to have a chest X-ray first.
However, it is important to perform more precise high-resolution chest CT (computerized tomography) because it is difficult to accurately discriminate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by chest X-rays alone. In addition, if necessary, bronchial alveolar lavage tests through bronchoscopy and lung biopsy through thoracoscopic surgery may be performed. In addition, lung function tests are performed to evaluate the severity of the disease and check the progression speed. In addition, it is one of the important diagnostic methods to confirm the unique 'bilateral basal blister sound' that comes from the lungs through auscultation.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis significantly reduces the overall quality of life of patients beyond simple respiratory diseases. When oxygen supply is needed, even daily activities become difficult, and people complain of extreme fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Families also face increased financial and mental burdens.
Professor Kim Kyung-hoon emphasized, "If you have a dry cough of unknown cause or symptoms of shortness of breath, it is important to visit a hospital for examination." "As the development of new drugs is active recently, the prognosis can improve if the disease is properly understood and actively treated, so you should not pass over the symptoms inadvertently."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
