Nutrition in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Multidisciplinary Work as an Approach to the Future

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common interstitial pneumonia and has undergone significant diagnostic and therapeutic advances in recent years. However, little has been investigated so far regarding the nutritional alterations associated with the disease. The prevalence of malnutrition associated with IPF has been estimated around 30%, but it can reach up to 60% in patients awaiting lung transplantation. Malnutrition is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with IPF, and often manifests through weight reduction and/or changes in body composition, which can lead to a deterioration in muscle and/or bone mass. The origin of malnutrition in IPF is multifactorial and not entirely known. Some patients with advanced IPF, even having a preserved body weight, tend to have a loss of lean mass, which is associated with muscle dysfunction and poor physical performance. The resulting muscle weakness leads to physical deconditioning and greater dyspnea, reduced exercise tolerance and deterioration in quality of life. Consequently, in order to improve the approach to IPF, the nutritionist should be incorporated into the multidisciplinary team with the aim of making an early diagnosis of nutritional status, which will allow the identification of early alterations and the appropriate nutritional intervention.