Malaysians Come Together to Raise Awareness on Lung Health

A total of 226 Malaysians of all ages and walks of life came together for the first-ever Lung Health Campaign at Taman Rekreasi Pudu Ulu, Cheras, in conjunction with World Lung Day & Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month 2025. 

Organised by the Pertubuhan Perubatan Pascasiswazah Institut Perubatan Respiratori (PPPIPR) and Institut Perubatan Respiratori (IPR), the event featured a walkathon of 3KM for the public and 500m for patients as well as various other interactive activities to raise awareness on pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive lung disease marked by the scarring and thickening of the lung tissue, making it difficult to breathe and hindering oxygen from entering the bloodstream. One of the most common types of PF is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), where the cause is unknown, and carries an average survival rate of only 3 to 5 years from diagnosis. 

“IPF and PPF are devastating lung diseases that place a significant burden on patients and caregivers as they progress. The progressive scarring, or fibrosis, of the lung typically leads to the worsening of symptoms such as dry cough, shortness of breath and fatigue, and rapid decline of lung function. Since there is currently no cure, awareness of symptoms, as well as early and accurate diagnosis are essential to help improve patient outcomes,” said Dr Jamal Malik, Head of Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia.

It is estimated that up to 3.6 million people could be affected by IPF worldwide, while in Malaysia a total of 124 cases of IPF were reported from three centres between 2017 to September 2020. Of those, 35.5% of patients had severe IPF, resulting in worsened prognosis.

“Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is generally under-recognised in Malaysia. Several forms of PF exist, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive scarring lung condition, as well as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, connective tissue disease–related pulmonary fibrosis, and others. Symptoms such as persistent dry cough and shortness of breath are often misattributed to other illnesses, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Many patients only seek treatment once their disease has progressed to a life-threatening stage. By raising awareness of PF, we aim to promote earlier detection and more timely diagnosis of these conditions” said Dr Syazatul Syakirin, Consultant Respiratory Physician in IPR.

The half-day event also featured health and educational booths, such as spirometry screening to measure lung performance, smoking cessation support, physiotherapy, nutrition advice, and information on organ donation and medications. To add to the festive atmosphere, participants engaged in some light exercise sessions and a colouring contest.