Background: Nintedanib slows lung function decline for patients with non-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) in clinical trials, but the real-world safety and efficacy are not known.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, standardised data were collected from patients in whom nintedanib was initiated for PPF between 2019 and 2020 through an early-access programme across eight centres in the United Kingdom. Rate of lung function change in the 12 months pre- and post-nintedanib initiation was the primary analysis. Symptoms, drug safety, tolerability and stratification by interstitial lung disease subtype and computed tomography pattern were secondary analyses.
Results: 126 patients were included; 67 (53%) females; mean±sd age 60±13 years. At initiation of nintedanib, mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 1.87 L (58% predicted) and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D LCO) was 32.7% predicted. 68% of patients were prescribed prednisolone (median dose 10 mg) and 69% were prescribed a steroid-sparing agent. In the 12 months after nintedanib initiation, lung function decline was significantly lower than in the preceding 12 months: FVC -88.8 mL versus -239.9 mL (p=0.004), and absolute decline in D LCO -2.1% versus -6.1% (p=0.004). Response to nintedanib was consistent in sensitivity and secondary analyses. 89 (71%) out of 126 patients reported side-effects, but 86 (80%) of the surviving 108 patients were still taking nintedanib at 12 months with patients reporting a reduced perception of symptom decline. There were no serious adverse events.
Conclusion: In PPF, the real-world efficacy of nintedanib replicated that of clinical trials, significantly attenuating lung function decline. Despite the severity of disease, nintedanib was safe and well tolerated in this real-world multicentre study.
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