Danish Cohort Reports Lung Function and Survival Outcomes With Nintedanib for PPF

Researchers analysed all patients initiating nintedanib for PPF at four tertiary Danish interstitial lung disease centres between 2022 and 2024. The retrospective cohort included 359 patients (median age 72 years; 58% male), with median baseline forced vital capacity (FVC) of 69% predicted and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) of 42% predicted. Systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease-associated ILD and fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis were the most frequent diagnoses.

In linear mixed-effects models, annual FVC decline decreased from 224 mL (95% CI 198–250) before treatment to 92 mL (95% CI 49–135) after initiation. The estimated difference was 132 mL/year (95% CI 80–184; p<0.001). During a median follow-up of 25.2 months, 115 patients died; estimated survival was 94.1% at six months, 84.8% at 12 months and 70.7% at 24 months. Older age and lower baseline FVC and DLCO were associated with higher mortality.

The before-and-after observational design shows an association and cannot establish that nintedanib caused the change in FVC trajectory. The findings also document substantial mortality in this cohort; the abstract does not report a comparator group or further details on treatment exposure.