Background: Previously we assessed risk factors for FEV(1) decline in children and adolescents using the Epidemiologic Study of Cystic Fibrosis (J Pediatr 2007;151:134-139); the current study assessed risk factors in adults.
Methods: Risk factors for FEV(1) decline over 3-5.5 years for ages 18-24 and ≥25 years were assessed using mixed-model regression.
Results: Mean rates of FEV(1) decline (% predicted/year) were -1.92 for ages 18-24y (n=2793) and -1.45 for ages ≥25y (n=1368). For the 18-24y group, B. cepacia, pancreatic enzyme use, multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa, cough, mucoid P. aeruginosa, and female sex predicted greater decline; low baseline FEV(1) and sinusitis predicted less decline. For the ≥25y group, only pancreatic enzyme use predicted greater decline; low baseline FEV(1) and sinusitis predicted less decline.
Conclusions: Risk factors for FEV(1) decline in adults <25 years are similar to those previously identified in children and adolescents; older adults had few statistically significant risk factors.
Copyright © 2012 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.