Nonpharmacological Therapies for Interstitial Lung Disease

Purpose of ReviewInterstitial lung diseases (ILDs) cause unpredictable degrees of fibrosis and inflammation in the lungs leading to functional decline and varying symptom burden for patients. Some patients may live for years and be responsive to therapy, and other disease trajectory may be shorter and similar to patients with lung cancer. This ultimately affects the patient's quality of life as well as their caregiver(s).Recent FindingsNonpharmacological therapies play an important role in treatment of interstitial lung disease. These include symptom management, pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and palliative care. While ILDs are associated with high morbidity and mortality, different models of care exist globally. New tools help clinicians identify and address palliative care needs in daily practice, and specialty nurses and ILD centers can optimize care.SummaryThis paper provides an overview of nonpharmacological therapies available for patients with interstitial lung disease.