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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Design and Development of a Model to Study the Effect of Supplemental Oxygen on the Cystic Fibrosis Airway Microbiome
Published on: August 3, 2021
Improved survival at low lung function in cystic fibrosis: cohort study from 1990 to 2007
P M George1, W Banya, N Pareek
1Department of Cystic Fibrosis, Royal Brompton Hospital, London SW3 6NP, UK.
Objectives:
To evaluate the survival of patients with cystic fibrosis whose lung function has deteriorated to a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) below 30% predicted in the recent treatment era and to explore factors associated with any change in survival. Design Cohort study.
Setting:
Adult cystic fibrosis unit in London.
Participants:
276 patients (147 (53%) male) whose FEV(1) was first observed to be less than 30% predicted between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2003.
Main Outcome Measure:
Survival during follow-up to 31 December 2007 in two year sub-cohorts.
Results:
Median survival improved from 1.2 years in the 1990-1 group to 5.3 years in the 2002-3 group, with a marked improvement in survival from 1994. The use of nebulised recombinant human DNase was significantly associated with a reduced risk of death (hazard ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.44 to 0.79). Significantly increased risks were associated with a body mass index under 19 (hazard ratio 1.52, 1.10 to 2.10), long term oxygen therapy (3.52, 2.49 to 4.99), and nebulised antibiotics (1.84, 1.05 to 3.22).
Conclusion:
A marked improvement has occurred in the survival of patients with cystic fibrosis with an FEV(1) less than 30% predicted. Secondary analyses suggest that some of this improvement may be due to use of recombinant human DNase.
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