Functional parameters of small airways can guide bronchodilator use in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) may present comorbid obstructive lung diseases with small airway dysfunction (SAD). Existing guidelines suggest that inhaled bronchodilators should be used if the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the 1st second and forced vital capacity (FEV₁/FVC) < 0.7 in IPF. However, most IPF patients have FEV₁/FVC > 0.7 even with coexisting emphysema. We retrospectively enrolled IPF patients who were registered at our outpatient clinic. At baseline, 63 patients completed computed tomography (CT) scans, lung function measurements, and symptom questionnaires. Among these patients, 54 (85.71%) underwent antifibrotic treatment and 38 (60.32%) underwent long-acting bronchodilator treatment. The median FEV₁/FVC was 0.86. Not all patient

SUBMITTER: Hu PW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7596229 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature