[Growth and pulmonary function in Chilean children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis].

BACKGROUND

Nutrition influences morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), affecting their lung function.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the nutritional status of a group of CF patients and to analyze its evolution and relationship to lung function.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort of CF children and adolescents attended in our institution for 15 years, was analyzed. Age and form of presentation, mutation, weight and stature (measured annually at least), microbial colonization and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV(1)) were registered.

RESULTS

We gathered information about 33 patients, 64% males, diagnosed at 23.8 ± 45.6 months old (range 1-216), 85% had a genetic study (10 children had one or more Df508 alleles) and 94% had pancreatic insufficiency. In their last visit they were 13.0 ± 5.8 years old, their body mass index z-score (BMIz) was -0.25 ± 1.2 and their FEV(1) was 80.4 ± 28.6%. According to BMI: 73% were eutrophic, 18% undernourished and 9% were overweight. According to weight/ for height index (WH), the figures for eutrophy, undernutrition and overweight were 70, 6 and 24%, respectively. Only 12% had short stature. Those with P. aeruginosa infection had lower BMI. There was a positive correlation between FEV(1) and BMIz (+0.46, p = 0.02), but not with WH. During follow-up, there was a gradual deterioration of weight, height, and BMIz after 10-12 years of age and an overall gradual FEV(1) decrease.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of malnutrition in these patients with CF is high; undernutrition is higher if defined by BMIz and unlike WH, correlates to lung function. Nutritional deterioration starts before adolescence.