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Life expectancy for pulmonary fibrosis patients varies, but early diagnosis, minimal lung damage, and good response to treatment can increase survival. Women and non-smokers tend to live longer. Knowing the cause of the disease can also improve prognosis.
Although the course of pulmonary fibrosis can vary greatly from person to person, and there is no accurate way to know how quickly it will progress in any given case, there are several factors typically considered to influence the life expectancy of a person with pulmonary fibrosis. People diagnosed at an early age, especially women and non-smokers, often live longer than others. When the disease is recognized within a year of symptom onset and minimal lung damage and shortness of breath are diagnosed, patients have a better chance of survival. Other factors that can lead to an increase in life expectancy are knowing the cause and responding well to treatment early on.
A variety of personal factors often appear to play a role in life expectancy with pulmonary fibrosis. Those who find out they have the disease when they are younger typically live longer. Women also tend to fare better with pulmonary fibrosis than men. Those who have a history of smoking, and therefore more lung damage, are more likely to have a shorter survival time.
The time to diagnosis is also usually very important when estimating how long a patient will live with pulmonary fibrosis. The disease can sometimes be difficult to diagnose, but those who are diagnosed within the first year after noticing symptoms have a better chance of a longer life. Their chances are even better if the scarring in their lungs isn’t too extensive at the time of diagnosis and if their breathing is still good too.
Those who have pulmonary fibrosis caused by a known problem often have a better life expectancy than those who don’t. People whose lungs are scarred by infections or diseases such as systemic sclerosis are usually able to be treated by addressing the underlying problem. Damage from environmental factors can be reduced if exposure is stopped. Alternatively, those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the cause of which is unknown, tend to have a shorter survival time.
Another factor that often leads to an increase in life expectancy with pulmonary fibrosis is a good response to treatment. This can include medications, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients who do well with these treatments within three to six months often have a better prognosis and live longer than those who don’t.
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