Targeted Intervention for Patient Centered Outcome in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic fibrotic lung disease of unknown cause, is characterized by relentless progression, with a three-year mortality of up to 50%. IPF has high morbidity, with 90% of patients reporting dyspnea at the time of diagnosis and this is strongly correlated with quality of life and mortality. As IPF progress, breathlessness worsens, physical functional capacity declines, and health-related quality of life deteriorates. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) can improve well-being in patients with other chronic lung disease, but little is known regarding PR in IPF.