What is pulmonary fibrosis?

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause and results in the lungs becoming thick and stiff, or scarred, over time. PF may be caused by medications, exposures, or underlying diseases of the autoimmune system.

How do members experience pulmonary fibrosis?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with pulmonary fibrosis*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for pulmonary fibrosis*

*Data from patients with pulmonary fibrosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with pulmonary fibrosis*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Ofev)
Perceived effectiveness
for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (6 evaluations)
Side effects
diarrhea muscle fatigue
Total evaluations
6
Tried for
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (9) hypersensitivity pneumonitis (1)
Treatment

(GNC N-Acetyl Cysteine)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (2)
Treatment

(Esbriet)
Perceived effectiveness
for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (2)
Treatment

(Imuran)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (1)
Treatment

(transtracheal oxygen)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (1)

*Data from patients with pulmonary fibrosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has pulmonary fibrosis on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 3
20s 40
30s 211
40s 491
50s 909
60s 1,491
70+ 4,986

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 3,595
Female 4,652

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  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

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What is pulmonary fibrosis?

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause and results in the lungs becoming thick and stiff, or scarred, over time. PF may be caused by medications, exposures, or underlying diseases of the autoimmune system.



Common symptoms reported by people with pulmonary fibrosis

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for pulmonary fibrosis

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Ofev)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
8
Treatment name(s)

(GNC N-Acetyl Cysteine)
Type
Supplement
How many have tried
62
Treatment name(s)

(Esbriet)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
49
Treatment name(s)

(Imuran)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
42
Treatment name(s)

(transtracheal oxygen)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
229

Data from patients with pulmonary fibrosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with pulmonary fibrosis

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Ofev)
Perceived effectiveness
for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (6 evaluations)
Side effects
diarrhea muscle fatigue
Total evaluations
6
Treatment name(s)

(GNC N-Acetyl Cysteine)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Treatment name(s)

(Esbriet)
Perceived effectiveness
for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Treatment name(s)

(Imuran)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Treatment name(s)

(transtracheal oxygen)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with pulmonary fibrosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has pulmonary fibrosis on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 4 new patients joined this month
  • 7,438 say PF is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 3
20s 40
30s 211
40s 491
50s 909
60s 1,491
70+ 4,986
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 19
20-29 years 28
30-39 years 65
40-49 years 181
50-59 years 397
60-69 years 451
70+ years 256

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 3,595
Female 4,652

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 2,079
Not Diagnosed 146

These charts show data from PF patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: