Prognostic implication of 1-year decline in diffusing capacity in newly diagnosed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

This study evaluated the prognostic significance of a 1-year decline in diffusing capacity (DLco) among newly diagnosed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. A total of 108 IPF patients were followed to assess changes in DLco over one year and their association with survival. Patients with a ≥15% decline in DLco showed significantly reduced survival compared to those without such decline. Moreover, DLco reduction was identified as an independent predictor of mortality, whereas FVC change was less predictive. The study concludes that 1-year DLco decline may serve as a valuable biomarker for predicting disease progression and mortality in IPF.