The cohort consisted of 300 patients enrolled in the IPF-PRO Registry (NCT01915511) between June 2014 and February 2017. Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that was diagnosed or confirmed at the enrolling center within the past 6 months were eligible for enrollment. This analysis included patients who had enrollment blood samples and data on critical clinical variables at enrollment (age sex height smoking status definite/probable/possible IPF according to the 2011 ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT diagnostic criteria spirometry). Outcomes were ascertained from enrollment through June 2019. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1 2 3 7 8 9 12 13 and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) 1 2 and 4 were quantified in plasma collected at enrollment using multiplexed Luminex immunoassays or standard ELISA kits. The IPF-PRO Registry study obtained ethics approval at the data coordinating center (Duke Clinical Research Institute Duke Institutional Review Board Protocol Number Pro00046131) and at every enrolling center (listed in the Acknowledgments). Additionally ethics approval was granted by the Duke Institutional Review Board Protocol Number Pro00082241 to use the biosamples obtained as part of the IPF-PRO Registry for the analyses contained herein. All participants gave written informed consent.
