Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026

The WinCF Model - An Inexpensive and Tractable Microcosm of a Mucus Plugged Bronchiole to Study the Microbiology of Lung Infections
Published on: May 8, 2017
Poor recovery from cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations is associated with poor long-term outcomes
Don B Sanders1, Qianqian Zhao2, Zhanhai Li2,3
1Department of Pediatrics, Riley Hospital for Children, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Rationale:
People with CF treated with IV antibiotics for a pulmonary exacerbation (PEx) frequently fail to recover to baseline FEV1 . The long-term impact of these events has not been studied.
Objectives:
To determine if a patient's spirometric recovery after a PEx is associated with time to next PEx within 1 year, the spirometric recovery after the next PEx, and/or the number of PEx episodes in the next 3 years.
Methods:
We used data from the CF Foundation Patient Registry from 2004 to 2011. We randomly selected one PEx per patient that met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients were defined as Non-Responders if their best FEV1 (in liters) recorded in the 3 months after the PEx was <90% of the best FEV1 (in liters) in the 6 months before the PEx. We compared Responders and Non-Responders using multivariable regression models.
Results:
We randomly chose 13 954 PEx episodes that met inclusion/exclusion criteria. A total of 2 762 (19.8%) patients were classified as Non-Responders. Non-Responders had a shorter median time to the next PEx, 235 (95%CI 218, 252) days, versus >365 days for Responders. Thirty-four percent of Non-Responders at the initial PEx were also Non-Reponders at the next PEx, versus 20% of Responders at the initial PEx. Non-Responders had more PEx episodes over the next 3 years, 4.99 (95%CI 4.84, 5.13), than Responders, 3.46 (95%CI 3.41, 3.51).
Conclusions:
Poor recovery after a PEx is associated with a shorter time to the next PEx, increased risk of poor recovery at a second PEx, and more frequent subsequent PEx treatments.
More Related Videos
03:53Growing a Cystic Fibrosis-Relevant Polymicrobial Biofilm to Probe Community Phenotypes
Published on: April 19, 2024
05:56Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis
Published on: August 29, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Cystic Fibrosis: Management
Sinus disease and chronic...
Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation