Prevalence, Clinical Features, and Outcomes of Young Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

Selection for Function in Early Life: Implications for Early-Onset Pathologies.Evolutionary applications · 2026
Article

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jeewon LeeDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea, jwleeca@gmail.com.

Kyung Joo KimDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Jung Hyun NamDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Joon Young ChoiDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Chin Kook RheeDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Yong Suk JoDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can occur at any age; however, studies on younger IPF patients are scarce because it primarily affects the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of younger IPF patients.

methodsWe analyzed the National Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database from 2015 to 2021. Patients with IPF were identified using the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes and the Rare Intractable Diseases codes and were categorized into three age groups: <50, ≥50 and <65, and ≥65 years. The risk of acute exacerbation (AE) and mortality was analyzed.

resultsAmong 4,243 patients with IPF, 91 were under 50. These younger patients, who were predominantly female, exhibited less comorbidities and received more systemic steroids, whereas older group received more pirfenidone. Although AE risk increased with age, it was not statistically significant. Mortality and lung transplantation risks increased notably with age from the <50 group to the ≥50 and <65 group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-2.49) and the ≥65 group (HR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.51-3.93). These risks were influenced by factors such as age, comorbidities, previous AEs, and steroid use. Conversely, pirfenidone treatment reduced the risk.

conclusionWhile younger IPF patients had a lower risk of mortality and lung transplantation, with no significant differences in the risk of AEs, they were less likely to receive antifibrotic therapy and more often treated with steroids, which may affect outcomes. Early, targeted treatment strategies, including antifibrotic use, are crucial for improving their prognosis.

introductionIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can occur at any age; however, studies on younger IPF patients are scarce because it primarily affects the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of younger IPF patients.

methodsWe analyzed the National Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database from 2015 to 2021. Patients with IPF were identified using the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes and the Rare Intractable Diseases codes and were categorized into three age groups: <50, ≥50 and <65, and ≥65 years. The risk of acute exacerbation (AE) and mortality was analyzed.

resultsAmong 4,243 patients with IPF, 91 were under 50. These younger patients, who were predominantly female, exhibited less comorbidities and received more systemic steroids, whereas older group received more pirfenidone. Although AE risk increased with age, it was not statistically significant. Mortality and lung transplantation risks increased notably with age from the <50 group to the ≥50 and <65 group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-2.49) and the ≥65 group (HR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.51-3.93). These risks were influenced by factors such as age, comorbidities, previous AEs, and steroid use. Conversely, pirfenidone treatment reduced the risk.

conclusionWhile younger IPF patients had a lower risk of mortality and lung transplantation, with no significant differences in the risk of AEs, they were less likely to receive antifibrotic therapy and more often treated with steroids, which may affect outcomes. Early, targeted treatment strategies, including antifibrotic use, are crucial for improving their prognosis.

Indexed as

Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisAdultAgedAge FactorsDatabases, FactualDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansLung TransplantationMaleMiddle AgedPrevalencePyridonesRepublic of KoreaRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorspirfenidonePyridonesExacerbationIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosisLung transplantationMortalityYoung patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis