Winter 2007 

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Pulmonary Fibrosis Mortality Climbs, Especially Among Women

Death rates from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a deadly scaring of the lungs, rose steadily between 1992 and 2003, according to research published by National Jewish Medical and Research Center faculty. The rise was greater among women than men, and is predicted to continue climbing for both sexes. The findings, published in an issue of The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, emphasize the need for additional research on this invariably fatal disease.

"Our research shows that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is more common than previously believed," said Kevin K. Brown, MD, senior author of the study and vice chair of medicine at National Jewish. "In the past decade we have begun to make progress at understanding the disease and identifying potential therapeutic targets. We need, however, to redouble our efforts against this devastating disease."

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is an uncontrolled and progressive scarring of lung tissue, leading to a nagging, dry cough, and shortness of breath. The cause of the disease is unknown, and there is no approved treatment for it. Patients live an average of just three years after diagnosis with the disease.

Shortly after publication of the report, Assistant Professor of Medicine Gregory Cosgrove, MD, and Dolly Kervitsky, Manager of the Interstitial Lung Disease Program, traveled to Washington, DC, for a series of meetings with legislators to discuss issues surrounding pulmonary fibrosis, to raise awareness of the disease, and to emphasize the need for additional research funding.

The death in October of actor Robert Goulet from IPF also brought attention to the disease.