Life expectancy in pulmonary fibrosis

In this video I talk about life expectancy, survival and prognosis in pulmonary fibrosis (lung scarring). This is a common question that patients and their carers have. In the field of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), there are many conditions which may lead to progressive pulmonary fibrosis. The prognosis and life expectancy are different depending not only on the type of pulmonary fibrosis, but also on other factors, such as the person's age and other associated conditions (not only lung conditions). The effect of antifibrotic medications (such as nintedanib and pirfenidone) also matters in how quickly the scarring will progress and affect life expectancy.
Unfortunately it is hard to give exact estimates, but several factors play a role:
- the type of pulmonary fibrosis
- how much scarring is present on the lungs at the moment of diagnosis
- the pattern of fibrosis
- other medical conditions (not only lung related)
- tolerance to treatments
- the person's frailty and exercise capacity (ability to cope with the pulmonary fibrosis over time).

#pulmonaryfibrosis #survival

Please leave comments below if you want me to cover other topics in ILD.

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The opinions presented on this channel are my own and do not constitute medical advice in specific cases. If you are watching/listening to this content as a patient, you must seek personalized advice from your own healthcare team (who can provide you with a consultation and appropriate treatment and advice. This information presented here may not apply in your case. If you are a health professional, please use your professional judgement when treating patients.

[joycesimpson]

I was diagnosed october 2020 and in November diagnosed with emphysema at 62yr I am now 66yr.. I had to leave my job a year later.. I have now been on oxygen since 2022.. now at 5 and just recently put on 24hrs a day.. I constantly get chest infections.. I have great nurses keeping close eye on it.. my daughter is a great help to me and works full time ( she lives near me).. this is a very debilitating condition and very frightening.. I wish all the best to anyone living with this disease.. please pray for a cure..

[lornaferrari]

Thank you for presentation. My husband had p for 16 years but it was stable. He had CT scans each year and it was not progressing. During the COVID epidemic he had his first vaccine in spring 2021 and 2nd vaccine in July 2021. Within 5 months he had lost a lot of weight…was struggling to breath was was put in intensive care, he sadly died in Feb 2022. I have read studies that say Cvi vaccines exasperate of problems. I am still devastated by the loss of my husband at only 68 years old.
Lorna Ferrari
Toronto Canada

[TheHikercrone]

My Mom died of PF which was instigated from a bad case of chicken pox, which she was told also landed in her lungs. She was also a smoker (never a good thing). She was diagnosed at about age 33-34 and managed to survive until just past her 50th birthday in 1986. Have really appreciated your videos to help me understand how she suffered & why. It's been healing :)

[frankvanbus]

My dad sadly died two weeks ago from ipf he worked in construction and was first diagnosed 2 years ago... I am hoping there will be a cure very soon so nobody has to go through it like my dad.

[harryandmaryguetherman]

My terminal disease diagnosis of IPF two years ago is scary. Dr. Stefan Christian Stanel presents MORE than just the pessimistic news I see on the internet. He provides information that can give hope and some optimism to many of us with IPF. Although there is presently no cure, he stresses the fact that no two cases are necessarily alike. There’s much general information we should know and should discuss with our physician. Thank you, Dr.Stefan, for your approach that we learn more than just the dismal stuff we read on line. Your concern for our being “well informed” and to search out all the facts about our own specific and unique case is commendable. Your genuine interest in keeping us well informed is commendable. Thanks again. 👍

[orionsbelt]

Thank you so much for explaining this!!! I was recently diagnosed and im now waiting on my test results which is very stressful. I feel much better now after watching your video. Thank you again. Im sure your video has helped a lot of people understand what they may be facing.

[BetsyRoberts-ue]

I have had asthma for and GERD for decades and now have scarring in my lungs and COPD from the inflammation over a long time period. So as far as I know, my diagnosis is pulmonary fibrosis from reactive airway disease (asthma) and severe GERD. I also have an extremely rare genetic metabolic disease called Variegate Porphyria, that can also have a pulmonary component. I have appointments with specialists soon, so now it's just hurry up and wait (lol). So right now I'm just taking things one day at a time and doing what I can to stay as healthy as I can. I'm 64 and have no family history of PF or asthma but both of my parents and both of my siblings have all had GERD. One brother has it worse than I and now has Barrett's Esophagus (a pre-cancerous condition). Once I see the specialists at my upcoming appointments, I will regroup and make a plan for lifestyle, diet, and medication changes - whatever can have a positive effect on my health.

[tobyvaught]

I'm was recently diagnosed with u.i.p and this was the first video I heard you say anything about it and I'm just having a hard time learning anything about it from my doctor or online.I was really hoping maybe for to your video you could do one about u.i.p because the way you explain things just makes it easier for me to learn.Thanks for your time and I look forward to seeing more videos

[XPinarello]

I’m 78 years old and a Vietnam veteran that was exposed to Agent Orange. I was given a chest CT scan for a possible pulmonary embolism, and an incidental finding of lung scarring and nodules showed up. I’m going to check in with my Primary Physician tomorrow for a referral to a specialist. I think the Agent Orange exposure is the culprit, but that’s just my opinion. Thank you for your professional expertise.

[magnetsa]

I'm 73 and got IPF from a Covid attack. My CT scans are not good and are not getting better over time. Right after I got IPF I also had a heart attack two days later. I had been going to the gym just about every day and my cardiologist told my family after he inserted SIX stents that he had no idea how I was still alive other than I was in excellent shape other than my heart - which he had now fixed, even upgraded.

Now my only hope is research scientists coming up with a cure for Pulmonary Fibrosis. Since they fixed sickle cell I suspect a similar fix with CRISPR and nanoparticles might be the research path.

I just wish there were a well-maintained database listing all current research and clinical trial future possibilities. I would be a candidate.

[RochelleAnnala]

Thank you for your very informative videos. I was just diagnosed last week at 52 years old with Interstitial PF. Your videos have been a god send for me to get reliable information ❤

[malcolmlaing]

Thank you so much for giving me some idea of life expectancy. Your information is greatly appreciated.

[ellieantar]

Thank you for sharing this important information

[JasdeepClayton]

I was just diagnosed tjis week with interstitial lung disease pulmonary lung disease due to sarcoidosis. Thank you for spreading the knowledge.

[thomasprice]

I'VE been on this earth for 77 years. I was diagnosed with IPF in 2021. I've heard that life expectancy is 3-5 years. Im not afraid of death because I have a savior who promised a resurrection some day. I believe Him. This life on earth society wise has deteriorated through my life time so much that I'm ready to check out. Things are getting so crazy today. Hatred and strife everywhere one turns.

Death is just a step to eternal life in Yeshua Messiah. Again, I have no fear of death. It's a natural process. Blessings to all.

[wt]

Thank you for the very helpful and detailed videos !

[iamkhushi]

This is really informative as I was also diagnosed ILD NSIP familial this July, I had review on 16th Oct and doc checked my condition said it is stable as of now, I keep listening to information shared by Dr Stefan and this really helps to understand what I am going through.

[vilearninglife]

My mother has been diagnosed with early onset of IPF with UIP pattern of scarring. She is 55 year old and has diabetes too. She has been suffering for over 5-6 years now but the diagnosis happened only this year. What should I preparing myself for?

[cherry]

My mom was diagnosed with early stage fibrosis caused from severe GERD.. do you think if she gets the GERD surgery to eliminate the acid that the progression will be slowed down?

[bonnieparrett]

My husband was dx with IPF about 3 yrs ago..fast progression. O2 24/7 past year...8 lts now. Recently dx with bladder ca. I question all the vaccines in the past 2 years? Is there a connection?.