IPF: Information for Caregivers Make an Appointment Refer a Patient Ask a Question Reviewed by Jeffrey James Swigris, DO, MS (September 01, 2017) There is no formal staging system for IPF. However, thinking of the disease in four stages can help IPF caregivers prioritize their needs and keep them from feeling overwhelmed. Although education regarding a variety of topics can occur at any time, the stages below may help caregivers focus on what is needed and what to expect in the future. Caregiving and The Four Stages of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Stage 1: Recently diagnosed Stage 2: Needing oxygen with activity, but not at rest Stage 3: Needing oxygen 24 hours a day, with activity, at rest and during sleep Stage 4: Advanced oxygen needs (needing high-flow oxygen or when a lightweight, portable delivery system is unable to meet a patient’s needs). IPF: Stages IPF: Questions to Ask your Doctor Clinical Trials For more than 100 years, National Jewish Health has been committed to finding new treatments and cures for diseases. Search our clinical trials.
Reviewed by Jeffrey James Swigris, DO, MS (September 01, 2017) There is no formal staging system for IPF. However, thinking of the disease in four stages can help IPF caregivers prioritize their needs and keep them from feeling overwhelmed. Although education regarding a variety of topics can occur at any time, the stages below may help caregivers focus on what is needed and what to expect in the future. Caregiving and The Four Stages of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Stage 1: Recently diagnosed Stage 2: Needing oxygen with activity, but not at rest Stage 3: Needing oxygen 24 hours a day, with activity, at rest and during sleep Stage 4: Advanced oxygen needs (needing high-flow oxygen or when a lightweight, portable delivery system is unable to meet a patient’s needs). IPF: Stages IPF: Questions to Ask your Doctor