Common Comorbidities in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) is a progressive fatal disease of the lung with unknown etiology and limited treatment options. It is more common in men and the elderly aged over 50 years, which also have a high incidence of emphysema, lung neoplasms, and cardiovascular disease. IPF patients with comorbidities often have a worse prognosis than those with IPF alone. We write this article in reference to common comorbidities in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to draw physicians' attention. Clinical physicians should know that much can be done to identify and alleviate symptoms of those comorbidities, and to potentially improve the overall quality of life of these patients.