What is the prognosis of usual interstitial pneumonia (uip)?

Usually is not good: Regardless of etiology, uip is relentlessly progressive, usually leading to respiratory failure and death. Some patients do well for a prolonged period of time, but then deteriorate rapidly because of a superimposed acute illness (so-called "accelerated uip"). The outlook for long-term survival is poor. In most studies, the median survival is 3 to 4 years.