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. 2012 Dec;21(126):355–361. doi: 10.1183/09059180.00002512

Table 1. Prevalence and incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by geographic region.

First author [ref.] Country and study period Study methods and case definition (year of estimate) Age yrs IPF prevalence per 100,000 population (95% CI) Annual IPF incidence per 100,000 population (95% CI)
All Male Female All Male Female
North America
    Coultas [9] USA, 1988–1990 Population-based ILD registry (1988–1990)
Cases were identified using medical records, pathology reports, death certificates and autopsy reports
≥18 20.2 13.2 10.7 7.4
    Fernández Pérez [11] USA, 1997–2005 Olmsted County historical cohort (2005)
Narrow case definition#
≥50 27.9 8.8 13.38 6.08
(10.4–45.4) (5.28–12.38) (6.51–20.24) (2.08–10.08)
Broad case definition 63.0
(36.4–89.6)
17.43
(12.42–22.44)
24.02
(14.84–33.20)
13.43
(7.50–19.37)
    Raghu [16] USA, 1996–2000 Healthcare claims database (2000)
Narrow case definition+
≥18 14.0 6.8
Broad case definition§ 42.7 16.3
Europe
    Thomeer [18] Belgium,
1992–1996
Population-based ILD registry in 20 centres (1992–1996)
Biopsy proven UIP were identified as IPF
All 1.25 0.22
    Kolek [14] Czech Republic, 1981–1990 Retrospective observational study in 24 centres (1990)
Diagnosis based on histology or typical clinical symptoms, radiological pattern and functional changes
All 12.1 0.94
    Hodgson [12] Finland,
1997–1998
Pulmonary clinic databases nationwide (29 clinics) (1997–1998)
IPF diagnosis according to ATS/ERS consensus (2000) [22]
All 16–18ƒ
    Karakatsani [13] Greece, 2004 National survey of pulmonologists (2004)
IPF diagnosis according to ATS/ERS consensus (2000) [22]
All 3.38 0.93
    Von Plessen [20] Norway,
1984–1998
Hospital records (1998)
IPF cases identified based on physician diagnoses using ICD-8 (codes 517, 517.00, 517.01, 517.09) and ICD-9 (codes 515, 516.3, 516.8, and 516.9)
≥16 23.4##
(14.9–33.0)
16.8 30.7 4.3## 4.0
(3.1–4.9)
4.6
(3.7–5.6)
    Gribbin [7] UK, 1991–2003 THIN database (1991–2003)
IPF was diagnosed clinically or by open-lung biopsy
≥40 4.6
(4.3–4.9)
5.69
(5.24–6.18)
3.44
(3.10–3.82)
    Navaratnam [8] UK, 2000–2009 THIN database (2000–2009)
IPF cases identified from primary care data and death records using ICD codes (ICD-8 code 517; ICD-9 codes 516.3 and 515; ICD-10 code J84.1)
≥40 7.44
(7.12–7.77)
9.46
(8.96–9.98)
5.46
(5.07–5.86)

ILD: interstitial lung disease; UIP: usual interstitial pneumonia; ATS: American Thoracic Society; ERS: European Respiratory Society; ICD: International Classification of Diseases; THIN: The Health Improvement Network. #: UIP on a surgical lung biopsy specimen or a definite UIP pattern on a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) image. : UIP on a surgical lung biopsy specimen, or a definite or possible UIP pattern on a HRCT image. +: met broad case definition (see §) plus at least one medical claim with a procedure code for surgical lung biopsy, transbronchial lung biopsy or computed tomography of the thorax; on or before date of last medical claim with a diagnosis code for IPF. §: age ≥18 yrs, at least one medical claim with a diagnosis code for IPF (ICD-9-CM 516.3), no medical claims with a diagnosis code for any other ILDs on or after date of last medical claim with a diagnosis code for IPF. ƒ: IPF patients were estimated from evaluation, sampling and extrapolation methods combined. ##: incidence and prevalence of hospitalised IPF.