Over-70s ‘carry greatest burden’ of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Australian respiratory physicians provide the first national estimates of incidence, prevalence and mortality from the disease

Over-70s account for more than 80% of all idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis prevalent cases and deaths despite comprising just 9% of the population, researchers say.

Their modelling, which also shows a higher burden of disease among men than in women, is the first to provide a national epidemiological profile of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Australia.