What is lung fibrosis?

• Fibrosis is a scarring process which occurs in response to an injury or insult to the lung.
• The scar tissue that forms in the lung can affect how well the lungs work and causes new symptoms to develop.
• The process of fibrosis can happen in a large number of different lung conditions but the process is most aggressive in the condition called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis or IPF.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an uncommon and not well understood lung condition.

• Idiopathic means the cause of the injury or insult driving the condition has not been identified.
• A combination of genetic and environmental factors may be involved.
• Symptoms are non-specific and include shortness of breath and a dry cough.
• The number of cases has risen in recent years. It is estimated that more than 5,000 new cases of IPF are diagnosed every year in the UK.
• The condition usually first develops in adults aged 50 or above and is thought to be more common in men.

What is the outlook for people with IPF?

• The outlook for people with IPF can be very variable.
• It is impossible to predict an individual’s expected survival rate as the rate of progression can vary greatly.
• The average survival for people with IPF in the UK is three years from the time of diagnosis.
• However, around 20% of people with the disease survive for more than five years.
• The information above is a general overview and cannot be considered specific to any individual.
• Please consult your health care professional if you require information relevant to an individual.