Meaningful survival benefit for single lung transplantation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients over 65 years of age

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease that results in progressive respiratory failure and death. Antifibrotic therapy has been shown to slow disease progression [1, 2]. For many patients [3], lung transplantation is the only intervention recognised to provide significant survival benefit [4]. IPF commonly affects older patients, with a median age at diagnosis of 66 years old [5]. Without transplantation, the median survival from diagnosis is 2–4 years [5]. However, registry data indicates impaired outcomes following lung transplantation for older patients 6]. These data have prompted many centres in Europe to avoid offering transplantation to older IPF patients. This study demonstrates a clinically meaningful survival benefit of lung transplantation for IPF patients aged ≥65 years