Nine Organizations Team Up to Present First ILD Day on September 15 to Drive Awareness of Interstitial Lung Disease

To drive awareness of interstitial lung disease (ILD), nine organizations are collaborating to present the first-ever ILD Day on Wednesday, Sept. 15. There are more than 200 types of ILD, which is the umbrella term used for a large group of diseases characterized by inflammation and/or scarring in the lungs. The inflammation and scarring injure the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and get oxygen to the bloodstream.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) can be seen in many types of ILD, and there are more than 250,000 Americans living with PF and ILD. The damage caused by ILD can be irreversible and worsen over time. There are more than 50,000 new cases of ILD diagnosed annually in the U.S.

Shortness of breath is a common symptom of ILD, along with dry cough, fatigue and weakness, chest discomfort, “clubbing” of the fingertips, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss. Patients with some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, myositis, including dermatomyositis and polymyositis (DM and PM), sarcoidosis and Sjögren's syndrome, are at higher risk for ILD and should speak with their doctor about the disease.

“Awareness of interstitial lung disease remains relatively unknown in the community, and because its symptoms are similar to other common respiratory diseases, it can be very difficult to diagnose,” said William T. Schmidt, president and CEO of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. “We created ILD Day, in partnership with eight other organizations, to raise awareness so at-risk patients and those experiencing symptoms can be diagnosed more quickly to receive proper care and treatment to manage the condition.”

ILD Day is presented by a collaboration of organizations including the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Arthritis Foundation, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, The Myositis Association, PF Warriors, Scleroderma Foundation, Scleroderma Research Foundation, Sjögren's Foundation and Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis. ILD Day is supported by funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company.

“It is imperative that we all help expand understanding of ILDs, and we are proud to work with these organizations to broaden the scope of our community outreach,” said Al Masucci, executive director/therapeutic area head, respiratory IPF/ILD, clinical development and medical affairs, for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “Sponsoring ILD Day allows us to provide meaningful resources for patients and doctors and to help improve health.”

An educational webinar will be held on Sept. 15 to help patients better understand the disease, its symptoms and available treatments. To register or for more information, click here.

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About ILD Day

ILD Day was created to drive awareness of interstitial lung disease (ILD). It is presented by a collaboration of nine organizations representing patients affected by interstitial lung disease: Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Arthritis Foundation, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, The Myositis Association, PF Warriors, Scleroderma Foundation, Scleroderma Research Foundation, Sjögren's Foundation and Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

ILD Day will be recognized with media outreach, social media communications, an educational webinar for patients and a survey to understand existing awareness. ILD Day is supported by funding from Boehringer Ingelheim. For more information, visit www.ILDDay.org.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation.

Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, the company operates globally with approximately 50,000 employees. Since its founding in 1885, the company has remained family-owned and today creates value through innovation for three business areas including human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing.

Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to improving lives and providing valuable services and support to patients and their families. Our employees create and engage in programs that strengthen our communities. Please visit our website to learn more about how we make more health for more people through our Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

For more information, please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.us, or follow on Twitter @BoehringerUS.