Advanced chronic lung disease: need for an active interdisciplinary approach

Summary Modern treatment of patients with advanced lung disease includes not only pulmonary therapy but also integrative treatment of co-morbidities directly or indirectly linked to the underlying lung disease. Moreover, impairment of heath re- lated quality of life is frequent in these patients and influences their physical and psychological "well-being". Therefore, a multidisciplinary team approach gives the opportunity to appropriately deal with all these issues. It has been shown that treating patients with advanced lung disease in specialised centres has a positive impact on sur - vival, especially for patients with CF and IPF. Re- ferral to the intensive care unit is not generally contraindicated and mortality depends on the un- derlying lung disease and co-morbidities. Nowa- days, lung transplantation is a valuable therapeutic option in advanced lung disease and should be considered early especially in IPF patients.