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Article

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)―Common Practice in Poland before the “Antifibrotic Drugs Era”

by
Wojciech J. Piotrowski
1,*,
Magdalena M. Martusewicz-Boros
2,
Adam J. Białas
1 and
Katarzyna Lewandowska
3
1
Department of Pneumology and Allergology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcińskiego 22, 90-153 Łódź, Poland
2
3rd Lung Diseases Department, National Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
3
1st Lung Diseases Department, National Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Adv. Respir. Med. 2017, 85(3), 136-142; https://doi.org/10.5603/ARM.2017.0023
Submission received: 25 October 2016 / Revised: 5 June 2017 / Accepted: 5 June 2017 / Published: 7 June 2017

Abstract

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive and debilitating lung disease with a median survival time of 3–5 years. For now, pirfenidone (PIR) and nintedanib (NTB) are the only drugs that can slow down the disease’s progression. In Poland, these drugs, although registered for legal use, had not been reimbursed for IPF patients until the end of the year 2016. Aim of the study was to assess what was common practice in terms of diagnosis and treatment in the period before antifibrotic drugs became available for IPF patients in Poland. Material and methods: We performed a survey among participants of two nationwide pulmonological congresses held in 2016. Results: One hundred and fifty physicians took part in the study. Only 55% of respondents would reach their final diagnosis in collaboration with a radiologist. Just 40% of those sending patients for surgical lung biopsy (SLB) would discuss the case directly with a pathologist. 22% would never refer the patient suspected of having IPF for SLB. 85% believed that bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) may be useful for diagnosis. 41% of respiratory professionals would not use any drug for the treatment of IPF patients. 23% of physicians would prescribe corticosteroids in high doses (CS), either in monotherapy or in combination with other drugs. Only 43% of respondents would use antacid drugs in case of symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and only 11% would prescribe these drugs regardless of GERD diagnosis. Conclusions: The majority of Polish pulmonologists were not supported by radiologists and pathologists in the diagnostic process. Treatment standards were unsatisfactory, mostly due to a lacking of reimbursement regulations. Further education is necessary to improve management of IPF patients in Poland.
Keywords: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; diagnosis; treatment; international guidelines; Poland idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; diagnosis; treatment; international guidelines; Poland

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MDPI and ACS Style

Piotrowski, W.J.; Martusewicz-Boros, M.M.; Białas, A.J.; Lewandowska, K. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)―Common Practice in Poland before the “Antifibrotic Drugs Era”. Adv. Respir. Med. 2017, 85, 136-142. https://doi.org/10.5603/ARM.2017.0023

AMA Style

Piotrowski WJ, Martusewicz-Boros MM, Białas AJ, Lewandowska K. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)―Common Practice in Poland before the “Antifibrotic Drugs Era”. Advances in Respiratory Medicine. 2017; 85(3):136-142. https://doi.org/10.5603/ARM.2017.0023

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piotrowski, Wojciech J., Magdalena M. Martusewicz-Boros, Adam J. Białas, and Katarzyna Lewandowska. 2017. "Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)―Common Practice in Poland before the “Antifibrotic Drugs Era”" Advances in Respiratory Medicine 85, no. 3: 136-142. https://doi.org/10.5603/ARM.2017.0023

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