Early referral to cystic fibrosis specialist centre impacts on respiratory outcome

Abstract Background Published studies concerning the impact of specialist care on lung disease in cystic fibrosis remain limited and most are either biased due to comparison with historical controls and/or underpowered. Methods In this retrospective multicentric study, data from all CF children fulf...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cystic fibrosis 2009-01, Vol.8 (1), p.26-30
Main Authors: Lebecque, P, Leonard, A, De Boeck, K, De Baets, F, Malfroot, A, Casimir, G, Desager, K, Godding, V, Leal, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Belgium
Child
Children
Cystic Fibrosis - diagnosis
Cystic Fibrosis - microbiology
Cystic Fibrosis - therapy
Disease Progression
Early referral
Humans
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - isolation & purification
Pseudomonas prevalence
Pulmonary/Respiratory
Referral and Consultation
Respiratory outcome
Retrospective Studies
Specialized care
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Vital Capacity
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Background Published studies concerning the impact of specialist care on lung disease in cystic fibrosis remain limited and most are either biased due to comparison with historical controls and/or underpowered. Methods In this retrospective multicentric study, data from all CF children fulfilling the following criteria were collected: 1) Age 6–< 18 at the end of 2003; 2) diagnosis before 8 y; 3) follow-up in an accredited CF Belgian centre; 4) at least 1 spirometry and respiratory culture available for 2003. Group A included children referred ≥ 2 years after the diagnosis. Patients from Group A were then matched with a single early referred patient on the basis of 2 criteria: same centre, as closest age as possible (Group B). Results Data from 217 children were collected (Group A: 67/217). Late referred patients had a lower FEV1 (77.2% ± 22.4 vs 86.7% pred. ± 19.4, p = 0.01) and a higher prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (38.6 vs 17.5%, p < 0.05). Conclusion In this population of CF children, a delay of 6.1 y ( vs 0.1 y) between diagnosis and referral to a specialist clinic resulted in poorer respiratory outcome at age 13.
ISSN:1569-1993
1873-5010
DOI:10.1016/j.jcf.2008.07.005