Hospitalisations and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: lessons from two continents

Extract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating, irreversible lung disease with limited treatment options outside of lung transplantation. Unfortunately, over the course of their illness, many patients experience multiple hospitalisations, which are associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly among those requiring intensive care unit management and mechanical ventilation [1, 2]. Hospitalisation is often regarded as a sentinel event in IPF, but its frequency, causes and long-term consequences remain incompletely defined.