Factors Influencing Lung Function in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis in Western Romania

PURPOSE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the major factors influencing pulmonary function in CF patients from western side of Romania. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 51 patients with CF between the ages of 6 and 27.8 years who were monitored at regular visits to the National Cystic Fibrosis Centre and Pius Branzeu County Hospital in Timisoara, Romania, over a period of 2 years. The relationships between lung function, as measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), with patient age, sex, body mass index (BMI), pancreatic insufficiency (PI), microbial infection, CF-related diabetes (CFRD), CF-associated liver disease (CFLD), and physical activity <30 min/day, were evaluated by multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that FEV1 was 0.32% higher for each increase in percentile of BMI (95% confidence interval: 0.034–0.619). In addition, mean FEV(1) was 1.52% lower with every year rise of age. PI and female sex increased the risk of impaired lung function (FEV(1) <60%). The factors most closely correlated with pulmonary function in pediatric CF patients were current age (negative) and BMI (positive). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study, in combination with what is known from other studies in CF, suggest that a better nutritional status and infection prophylaxis should be part of a comprehensive clinical management strategy for pediatric CF in Romania.