Clinical Changes of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis during Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical changes of adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) during transition from a pediatric to adult CF center. Methods: Data were collected at the time of transfer. I year earlier and I year later, for all patients ill Our adult CF center arriving, from one of the three pediatric CF centers in Paris between January 2001 and June 2004. Results: Sixty-three of the 68 patients (transferred at a median age of 2 1.0 years) were regularly attending this adult CF center after 1 year and one had died. The mean number of outpatient visits increased in the year after transfer (5.7 vs. 3.8 in the year before, p < .001). The occurrence of clinical events and the rate of bronchial colonization did not change. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in about 60% of patients at any time, Pulmonary function declined with no statistically significant difference in the rate of decline between file 2 Years of follow-up (FEV1 was 54.7% predicted at transfer). Nutritional status remained stable (mean body mass index was 19.1 kg/m(2)). The number and duration of oral and i.v. antibiotic Courses did not chan e, but more patients received them at home (p < .001) and self-administered physiotherapy after transfer (p = .001). The proportion of Students decreased from 79.3% to 48.1% (p = .02) and the proportion in the workforce increased front 12.7% to 20.4% after transfer. Conclusions: Patients with CF remained clinically stable during transition and progressively acquired autonomy. (C) 2008 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.