Epidemiology
Five million people worldwide are affected by pulmonary fibrosis. A wide range of incidence and prevalence rates have been reported for pulmonary fibrosis. The rates below are per 100,000 persons, and the ranges reflect narrow and broad inclusion criteria, respectively.
| Study authors | Incidence rate | Prevalence rate | Population | Years covered | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raghu et al. | -- | 6.8-16.3 | 14.0-42.7 | U.S. health care claims processing system | 1996–2000 |
| Fernandez Perez et al. | -- | 8.8-17.4 | 27.9-63.0 | Olmstead County, MN | 1997–2005 |
| Coultas et al. | Male | 27.5 | 30.3 | Bernalillo County, NM | 1988–1990 |
| Female | 11.5 | 14.5 |
Based on these rates, pulmonary fibrosis prevalence in the United States could range from more than 29,000 to almost 132,000, based on the population in 2000 that was 18 years or older. The actual numbers may be significantly higher due to misdiagnosis. Typically, patients are in their forties and fifties when diagnosed while the incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis increases dramatically after the age of fifty. However, loss of pulmonary function is commonly ascribed to old age, heart disease or to more common lung diseases. Fibrosis is best known for killing Peter Benchley in 2006.
Read more about this topic: Pulmonary Fibrosis