Efficacy of lower dose pirfenidone for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in real practice: a retrospective cohort study
- Author:
Hyeontaek HWANG
1
;
Jung-Kyu LEE
;
Sun Mi CHOI
;
Yeon Joo LEE
;
Young-Jae CHO
;
Ho Il YOON
;
Jae Ho LEE
;
Choon-Taek LEE
;
Young Whan KIM
;
Jong Sun PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:2
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine 2022;37(2):366-376
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background/Aims:Pirfenidone slows the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We investigated its efficacy and safety in terms of dose and disease severity in real-world patients with IPF.
Methods:This multicenter retrospective cohort study investigated 338 patients treated with pirfenidone between July 2012 and March 2018. Demographics, pulmonary function, mortality, and pirfenidone-related adverse events were also investigated. Efficacy was analyzed according to pirfenidone dose and disease severity using linear mixed-effects models to assess the annual decline rate of forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO).
Results:The mean %FVCpredicted and %DLCOpredicted values were 72.6% ± 13.1% and 61.4% ± 17.9%, respectively. The mean duration of pirfenidone treatment was 16.1 ± 9.0 months. In the standard dose (1,800 mg/day) group, the mean %FVCpredicted was −6.56% (95% confidence interval [CI], −9.26 to −3.87) per year before, but −4.43% (95% CI, −5.87 to −3.00) per year after treatment with pirfenidone. In the non-standard lower dose group, the mean %FVCpredicted was −4.96% (95% CI, −6.82 to −3.09) per year before, but −1.79% (95% CI, −2.75 to −0.83) per year after treatment with pirfenidone. The FVC decline rate was significantly reduced, regardless of the Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) stage. Adverse events and mortality were similar across dose groups; however, they were more frequent in GAP stages II–III than in the stage I group.
Conclusions:The effect of pirfenidone on reducing disease progression of IPF persisted even with a consistently lower dose of pirfenidone.
