Practical management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial lung diseases

This session will offer an insight into the management of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). It is often difficult to characterise patients with ILD, but once the diagnosis is confirmed, it is important that we understand the different care pathways and treatment considerations for appropriate management. We will explore the role of the pharmacist in supporting patients with ILD and their impact on patient care. This includes focusing on the initial consultation with counselling on medications, medications review, de-prescribing inappropriate therapies, optimisation of comorbidities and personalised prescribing. We will also discuss the ongoing role of the pharmacist in managing and minimising adverse effects, ensuring adherence to therapy, managing comorbidities and co-prescribed therapies to offer best practice care to these patients. We will discuss some case studies on patients with IPF and ILD.

Marium Naqvi is a highly specialist ILD pharmacist at GSTT, the Chair of the National ILD Pharmacist Network and a committee member of the ILD-IN. Marium has developed her specialist role and is an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, responsible for the initiation and ongoing monitoring and supply of high risk and high cost medicines. All patients with ILD that opt for pharmacotherapy are referred to Marium for medicines review and optimisation and personalised medicine. As the service is rapidly expanding and patients express a greater need for local care, Marium is working across London and the South East of England to develop care pathways in primary and secondary centres. Research interests include the psychological impact of disease, adherence to therapy and the management of comorbidities with IPF.