The impact of telehealth based care on paediatric cystic fibrosis outcomes

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic telehealth utilisation amongst the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) population increased. Our aim was to assess the impact of CF telehealth clinics on CF outcomes. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients seen in the CF clinic at the Royal Children's Hospital (Victoria, Australia). In this review we compared spirometry, microbiology and anthropometry in the year preceding the pandemic to during the pandemic, and to the first in-person appointment in 2021. 214 patients were included. First in-person FEV(1) was median 5.4% below individuals’ best FEV(1) in 12 months prior to lockdown and decreased by >10% in 46 (31.9%) patients. There were no significant findings with regards to microbiology or anthropometry. The reduction in FEV(1) observed on return to in-person appointments highlights the importance of ongoing improvement of telehealth-based care along with continued face-to-face review for the paediatric CF population.