- Rare Disease Day draws attention to the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of IPF.
- Even though international guidelines recommend to offer antifibrotic treatment to the majority of individuals with IPF, research in Europe shows that around 40% of patients with confirmed IPF do not receive antifibrotic treatment.1
- Boehringer Ingelheim provides physicians with insights into progression of IPF as well as the benefits of early diagnosis and intervention.
On Rare Disease Day, Boehringer Ingelheim emphasise the question: ‘Why wait in IPF?´while awareness activities are focussing on highlighting the benefits of early diagnosis and considering early treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a rare, debilitating and fatal lung disease which affects approximately 3 million people worldwide.2
Diagnosing IPF can be difficult because typically, patients with IPF present with nonspecific symptoms usually attributed to ageing, deconditioning or other comorbidities.2 The median time from first symptoms to diagnosis is around two years.3 Early and accurate diagnosis of IPF is important, as interventions such as antifibrotic therapies, supplemental oxygen treatment, cough management and pulmonary rehabilitation may help patients to better manage their condition.
In IPF a key concern is that many patients who are diagnosed with the disease remain untreated. In 2016, 290 respiratory physicians from five European countries participated in an online survey about IPF treatment in patients under their care. The survey showed that, of patients with a confirmed diagnosis, 40% did not receive treatment.1
IPF is unpredictable and damage is permanent.2 Without appropriate medical intervention the opportunity to slow disease progression is lost. “Slowing disease progression and preserving lung function by reducing decline should be the primary goal for all physicians when treating individuals with IPF. For this reason initiation of treatment at diagnosis is vital”, commented Professor Toby Maher, Royal Brompton Hospital, UK.
While a cure for IPF has not been found yet, two approved antifibrotic drugs shown to slow disease progression in IPF are recommended for the majority of patients by international guidelines.4 At the time of diagnosis, IPF patients should feel empowered to take an active approach to managing their disease by learning all they can about it, and discussing with their treating physicians what treatment options and approaches are available.
New resources released for Rare Disease Day can be found at Boehringer Ingelheim.com.
More information on IPF for physicians can be found at inIPF. Further information for patients can be found at Life with IPF.
Boehringer Ingelheim
Innovative medicines for people and animals have, for more than 130 years, been what the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim stands for. Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the pharmaceutical industry’s top 20 companies and to this day remains family-owned. Day-by-day, some 50,000 employees create value through innovation for the three business areas; human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing. In 2016, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around 15.9 billion euros. With more than three billion euros, R&D expenditure corresponds to 19.6 per cent of net sales.
Social responsibility comes naturally to Boehringer Ingelheim. That is why the company is involved in social projects such as the “Making More Health” initiative. Boehringer Ingelheim also actively promotes workforce diversity and benefits from its employees’ different experiences and skills. Furthermore, the focus is on environmental protection and sustainability in everything the company does.
References
1. Maher TM, Molina-Molina M, Russell AM, et al. Unmet needs in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis-insights from patient chart review in five European countries. BMC Pulm Med. 2017;17(1):124.
2. Martinez FJ, Collard HR, Pardo A, et al. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17074.
3. Lamas DJ, Kawut SM, Bagiella E, Philip N, Arcasoy SM, Lederer DJ. Delayed access and survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a cohort study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;184(7):842-7.
4. Raghu G, et al. An Official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT Clinical Practice Guidelines: Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Executive Summary. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2015; 192(2)238 – 248.
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