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Children with cystic fibrosis in South Africa: an improving nutritional picture

A T Westwood1, J D Ireland

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Westwood@ich.uct.ac.za

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|May 24, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Improved growth in South African children with cystic fibrosis (CF) was observed between 1986 and 1996. This nutritional status enhancement in young CF patients suggests a better long-term prognosis in resource-limited settings.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Genetic Disorders
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Nutritional status and growth are critical determinants of prognosis in cystic fibrosis (CF).
  • South African CF patients have a median survival of 18 years, highlighting the need for improved management.
  • Understanding growth patterns is essential for enhancing patient outcomes in CF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the longitudinal growth patterns of a South African cystic fibrosis (CF) population.
  • To assess changes in nutritional status indicators over a decade (1986-1996).
  • To evaluate the impact of interventions on growth in a resource-limited setting for CF patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of CF patients in South Africa.
  • Calculation of weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height indices for 1986 and 1996.
  • Statistical comparison of growth indices between the two study periods.

Main Results:

  • Mean nutritional indices remained consistent between 1986 and 1996 for the overall CF population.
  • Children aged 5-10 years showed a significant improvement in mean weight-for-age in 1996 (94.2%) compared to 1986.
  • This improvement represented a 14.3% increase, indicating enhanced growth in younger CF patients.

Conclusions:

  • Significant improvements in the growth of young children with cystic fibrosis have been achieved in South Africa.
  • These findings suggest that enhanced nutritional status can positively influence the prognosis of CF patients.
  • The study demonstrates the feasibility of improving CF patient outcomes even in resource-poor environments.

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