Dempsey TM, et al. - Researchers used an extensive U.S. insurance database, to assess the clinical efficacy of pirfenidone and nintedanib (antifibrotic medications) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n=8,098). For comparing patients who received antifibrotic medications (n = 1,255) to those not on treatment (n = 1,255), they created a one-to-one propensity score–matched cohort. Patients taking pirfenidone did not differ significantly from those on nintedanib with regard to all-cause mortality. Based on the findings, they concluded that lower risk of all-cause mortality and hospitalization may be seen in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in relation to treatment with antifibrotic agents vs no treatment. As shown in this study, early but not long-term mortality was reduced by these treatments.