Italy reports 3,517 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cases in national registry

The Italian National Registry for Rare Diseases reported 3,517 cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) between 2017 and 2023. IPF is a rare, chronic, and progressive disease characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath, a dry cough, and general fatigue.

During the fourth national Fimarp congress held at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, experts discussed diagnosis and patient care. Data indicates that approximately 60% of patients are male, with an average age of 70 at the time of diagnosis. Because IPF is often categorized within the broader group of pulmonary interstitial lung diseases, a specific Italian IPF Registry has been established at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità.

Coordinated by the National Center for Rare Diseases, the new registry is currently in the enrollment phase. It has already included data from 425 patients across 17 participating centers. The initiative aims to deepen clinical knowledge and support research by integrating clinical data with radiographic imaging.