Biotech firm Intermune last week lent its backing to IPF World Week to support the awareness campaign for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
The rare progressive and fatal lung disease is characterised by the formation of scar tissue within the lungs and affects approximately five million people worldwide.
The fundamental aim of IPF World Week is to lessen patients’ isolation and fear by demonstrating that there is a growing community of support.
Last week the event saw healthcare professionals, advocacy groups, patients and their families come together to call for an integrated approach to tackling the disease and supporting those affected.
Specifically IPF World Week is working towards creating a national and international support network for IPF patients, raising awareness by informing, training and guiding stakeholders, and offering support and tools to patients and their families.
This year’s theme for the Week was ‘Breath of Hope’ and representative images were selected by European, American and Canadian IPF associations by means of public competitions, with one of the winning images – from the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association – pictured above.
“The two winning images represent support across generations, using soap bubbles as the symbol chosen to promote IPF awareness,” said Rosalba Mele, president of patient association Ama Fuoridalbuio.
In Europe, some 100 initiatives took place in IPF centres of excellence, while a number of US initiatives ran throughout September, driven by Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF).
“It’s the role of physicians, patient advocacy groups and medical companies to raise awareness of conditions in order to help and provide the tools for individuals with the disease to cope better,” said Professor Jim Egan, director of Ireland’s National Advanced Lung Disease Programme.
Patients were also encouraged to embrace digital advances, particularly in the form of online communities such as RareConnect and IPFWorld.