A global registry for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the time is now

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) of unknown aetiology with a median survival of only 3 years [1]. As a rare and orphan disease, IPF is difficult to study even within specialised referral centres and regional collaborative networks [2]. Although some local and regional prospective IPF registries exist, they generally do not share methodology and are not easily combined
A global IPF registry would facilitate a better understanding of disease biology and behaviour [3], as well as…