Smoking belies milder disease but worse prognosis for IP...(ed that current smoking might be a marke...),Health

Using the composite physiologic index (CPI), an index of disease severity that takes into account lung function and diffusion capacity as well as the confounding functional effects of concurrent emphysema, they found that survival was better in non-smokers than in the two smoking groups.

We speculate as to whether this reflects disease co-morbiditythat is, excess mortality from non-pulmonary disease ascribable to smoking or an effect of smoking in driving progression of lung disease, said Dr. Wells.

The researchers have several ongoing studies to determine the precise linkage between smoking damage such as smoking-related emphysema, IPF and other forms of fibrotic lung disease.

The next step is to pursue the idea that mechanisms linked to smoking cause progression of pulmonary fibrosis, says Dr. Wells. If we can then understand these mechanisms better, this may give us new treatment options.

'/>"/>