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 (12 evaluations)
Side effects
diarrhea abdominal bloating 9 more
Total evaluations
12
Tried for
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (14) hypersensitivity pneumonitis (1)
Treatment

(transtracheal oxygen)
Perceived effectiveness
for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (2 evaluations)
Side effects
sore nose
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (3)
Treatment

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

(Esbriet)
Perceived effectiveness
for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
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 2
20s 43
30s 216
40s 502
50s 929
60s 1,524
70+ 4,895

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 3,589
Female 4,643