Characteristics and clinical management of IPF patients in Spain: prospective, observational, multicentric study (OASIS study)

Aim & objective: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal lung disease associated with dyspnoea, cough and impaired quality of life affecting 7700 patients in Spain. Antifibrotic drugs have been shown to reduce the decline in lung function in patients with IPF. Our aim was to describe patient characteristics and impact of baseline lung function on the clinical management of IPF. Method: Prospective, observational, multicentric real-world data study of patient records with confirmed IPF, over 12 months of follow-up in 28 centres. Results: 204 consecutive patients with IPF were included: 77% male, average age (SD) 70.8 (7.6) years. At baseline, forced vital capacity (FVC) was 80% in 10.8%, 74.5% and 14.7% of patients, antifibrotics were administered in 82.8% of patients and non-pharmacological treatments in 20.1%. On average, patients attended 4.7, 2.98 and 2.4 primary care visits and 4.9, 3.2 and 2.9 pulmonologist visits during the study, by baseline FVC. Hospitalisations were more frequent in lower baseline FVC patients (20%, 6.4%, 7.4%, respectively). At 12 months, absolute lung capacity was decreased by 2.14% (95% CI: -3.90 to -0.37) relative to baseline. Absolute FVC decline in the total sample was >10% in 17.1% of patients, from 10% to 5% in 22.1% and 10% decline in 0%, 18.9% and 15% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Healthcare resource use in patients with preserved FVC is lower. Hence, it would be advisable to start IPF treatment as soon as possible to delay progression and control healthcare costs.