Incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and serious lung disease with a poor prognosis and severe clinical and humanistic burden. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize and quantify the data on IPF incidence and prevalence among adults...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pulmonary Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03836-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849767096006737920 |
|---|---|
| author | Negar Golchin Aditya Patel Julia Scheuring Victoria Wan Kimberly Hofer Jean-Paul Collet Brandon Elpers Tamara Lesperance |
| author_facet | Negar Golchin Aditya Patel Julia Scheuring Victoria Wan Kimberly Hofer Jean-Paul Collet Brandon Elpers Tamara Lesperance |
| author_sort | Negar Golchin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and serious lung disease with a poor prognosis and severe clinical and humanistic burden. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize and quantify the data on IPF incidence and prevalence among adults within the general population and to compare regional differences. Methods Comprehensive searches of MEDLINE®, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were conducted to capture available studies published in English from January 1, 2000, to November 7, 2023, that reported on the incidence or prevalence of IPF. Pooled weighted-mean incidence and prevalence estimates were calculated from studies reporting adequate epidemiological data using a DerSimonian-and-Laird random-effects model. Results Of 4,077 records identified, 26 studies were included in the meta-analysis (17 reported both prevalence and incidence, 6 reported incidence only, 3 reported prevalence only). Most studies were retrospective, with study periods ranging from 1984 to 2021. Pooled global incidence per 100,000 (95% confidence interval) was 5.8 (4.8, 6.8; 23 studies). Pooled incidence in Asia was 4.4 (1.6, 7.2; 5 studies), 5.1 (3.9, 6.3; 13 studies) in Europe, and 9.0 (6.9, 11.1; 5 studies) in North America. Pooled prevalence (per 100,000) was 17.7 (14.0, 21.5; 20 studies) globally, 14.8 (7.1, 22.6; 6 studies) in Asia, 14.6 (9.4, 19.7; 9 studies) in Europe, and 27.2 (21.0, 33.4; 6 studies) in North America. Conclusion This analysis confirms that IPF is a rare condition globally, but substantial heterogeneity exists across studies. Incidence and prevalence were notably high in North America compared with Europe and Asia. This finding may be explained by the use of selective source populations in North American studies, in contrast to the more general populations used in European or Asian studies. Additional contributing factors include variations in case identification algorithms, differences in diagnostic definitions and regional differences in occupational and environmental exposures. While recent multi-societal guidelines have advanced the standardization of the IPF diagnostic process, variability in clinical practice remains a challenge that affects comparisons of incidence and prevalence across regions and over time. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e06786ea8fa54331849b4d7ccb3d2bb9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2466 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pulmonary Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-e06786ea8fa54331849b4d7ccb3d2bb92025-08-20T03:04:21ZengBMCBMC Pulmonary Medicine1471-24662025-08-0125111210.1186/s12890-025-03836-1Incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysisNegar Golchin0Aditya Patel1Julia Scheuring2Victoria Wan3Kimberly Hofer4Jean-Paul Collet5Brandon Elpers6Tamara Lesperance7Bristol Myers SquibbBristol Myers SquibbBristol Myers SquibbEvidinno Outcomes Research IncEvidinno Outcomes Research IncEvidinno Outcomes Research IncBristol Myers SquibbBristol Myers SquibbAbstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and serious lung disease with a poor prognosis and severe clinical and humanistic burden. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize and quantify the data on IPF incidence and prevalence among adults within the general population and to compare regional differences. Methods Comprehensive searches of MEDLINE®, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were conducted to capture available studies published in English from January 1, 2000, to November 7, 2023, that reported on the incidence or prevalence of IPF. Pooled weighted-mean incidence and prevalence estimates were calculated from studies reporting adequate epidemiological data using a DerSimonian-and-Laird random-effects model. Results Of 4,077 records identified, 26 studies were included in the meta-analysis (17 reported both prevalence and incidence, 6 reported incidence only, 3 reported prevalence only). Most studies were retrospective, with study periods ranging from 1984 to 2021. Pooled global incidence per 100,000 (95% confidence interval) was 5.8 (4.8, 6.8; 23 studies). Pooled incidence in Asia was 4.4 (1.6, 7.2; 5 studies), 5.1 (3.9, 6.3; 13 studies) in Europe, and 9.0 (6.9, 11.1; 5 studies) in North America. Pooled prevalence (per 100,000) was 17.7 (14.0, 21.5; 20 studies) globally, 14.8 (7.1, 22.6; 6 studies) in Asia, 14.6 (9.4, 19.7; 9 studies) in Europe, and 27.2 (21.0, 33.4; 6 studies) in North America. Conclusion This analysis confirms that IPF is a rare condition globally, but substantial heterogeneity exists across studies. Incidence and prevalence were notably high in North America compared with Europe and Asia. This finding may be explained by the use of selective source populations in North American studies, in contrast to the more general populations used in European or Asian studies. Additional contributing factors include variations in case identification algorithms, differences in diagnostic definitions and regional differences in occupational and environmental exposures. While recent multi-societal guidelines have advanced the standardization of the IPF diagnostic process, variability in clinical practice remains a challenge that affects comparisons of incidence and prevalence across regions and over time.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03836-1Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisLung diseases, interstitialEpidemiologyIncidencePrevalence |
| spellingShingle | Negar Golchin Aditya Patel Julia Scheuring Victoria Wan Kimberly Hofer Jean-Paul Collet Brandon Elpers Tamara Lesperance Incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis BMC Pulmonary Medicine Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Lung diseases, interstitial Epidemiology Incidence Prevalence |
| title | Incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis a systematic literature review and meta analysis |
| topic | Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Lung diseases, interstitial Epidemiology Incidence Prevalence |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03836-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT negargolchin incidenceandprevalenceofidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosisasystematicliteraturereviewandmetaanalysis AT adityapatel incidenceandprevalenceofidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosisasystematicliteraturereviewandmetaanalysis AT juliascheuring incidenceandprevalenceofidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosisasystematicliteraturereviewandmetaanalysis AT victoriawan incidenceandprevalenceofidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosisasystematicliteraturereviewandmetaanalysis AT kimberlyhofer incidenceandprevalenceofidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosisasystematicliteraturereviewandmetaanalysis AT jeanpaulcollet incidenceandprevalenceofidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosisasystematicliteraturereviewandmetaanalysis AT brandonelpers incidenceandprevalenceofidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosisasystematicliteraturereviewandmetaanalysis AT tamaralesperance incidenceandprevalenceofidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosisasystematicliteraturereviewandmetaanalysis |