Dr. Martin Kolb, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON

IPF is a progressive disease with high morbidity and mortality. The past years have brought significant improvements in the pharmacological therapy of IPF but disease progression nevertheless occurs in most patients, albeit at a slower rate. This means that symptomatic treatment of patients with IPF (and other fibrotic lung disorders) remains a major element of patient care.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

  • Understand the progressive nature of fibrotic lung disorders, especially IPF;
  • Make decisions about pharmacological therapies that affect the disease progression versus interventions that aim at symptom control; and
  • Understand the potential benefit of collaborating with palliative care at an earlier stage of IPF.

CanMEDs Competencies addressed:
Medical Expert, Professional, Scholar