How quickly does interstitial lung disease progress?

Depends: There are roughly 200 different causes of interstitial lung disease. Ipf is the most common and unfortunately has a guarded prognosis. Some studies suggest 50% of patients die within 3 years. However, prognosis and survival varies considerably. Some forms of disease have an excellent survival.

Difficult to predict: Ild progression is difficult to predict, response to treatment also may vary from individual to individual.

Variable: One of the curious things about interstitial lung disease is its variability. In the worst cases the fibrosis can progress over just a few months. For most people it progresses over several years. In some cases it is quiet for long periods of time with intermittent worsening episodes that cause progression. While no current treatment slows the disease, much research is being done.