Respiratory therapy: a problem among children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of self-reported adherence to physical therapy recommendations in pediatric patients (6-17 years) with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to ascertain whether the different levels of adherence correlate with pulmonary function, clinical aspects, and quality of life. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. The patients and their legal guardians completed a questionnaire regarding adherence to physical therapy recommendations and a CF quality of life questionnaire. We collected demographic, spirometric, and bacteriological data, as well as recording the frequency of hospitalizations and Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K) clinical scores. RESULTS: We included 66 patients in the study. Mean age, FEV1 (% of predicted), and BMI were 12.2 ± 3.2 years, 90 ± 24%, and 18.3 ± 2.5 kg/m2, respectively. The patients were divided into two groups: high-adherence (n = 39) and moderate/poor-adherence (n = 27). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups regarding age, gender, family income, and total S-K clinical scores. There were statistically significant differences between the high-adherence group and the moderate/poor-adherence group, the latter showing lower scores for the "radiological findings" domain of the S-K clinical score (p = 0.030), a greater number of hospitalizations (p = 0.004), and more days of hospitalization in the last year (p = 0.012), as well as lower scores for the quality of life questionnaire domains emotion (p = 0.002), physical (p = 0.019), treatment burden (p < 0.001), health perceptions (p = 0.036), social (p = 0.039), and respiratory (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Low self-reported adherence to physical therapy recommendations was associated with worse radiological findings, a greater number of hospitalizations, and decreased quality of life in pediatric CF patients.

Respiratory therapy: a problem among children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis / Fisioterapia respiratória: um problema de crianças e adolescentes com fibrose cística

Objective : To evaluate the level of self-reported adherence to physical therapy recommendations in pediatric patients (6-17 years) with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to ascertain whether the different levels of adherence correlate with pulmonary function, clinical aspects, and quality of life. Methods : This was a cross-sectional study. The patients and their legal guardians completed a questionnaire regarding adherence to physical therapy recommendations and a CF quality of life questionnaire. We collected demographic, spirometric, and bacteriological data, as well as recording the frequency of hospitalizations and Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K) clinical scores. Results : We included 66 patients in the study. Mean age, FEV1 (% of predicted), and BMI were 12.2 ± 3.2 years, 90 ± 24%, and 18.3 ± 2.5 kg/m2, respectively. The patients were divided into two groups: high-adherence (n = 39) and moderate/poor-adherence (n = 27). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups regarding age, gender, family income, and total S-K clinical scores. There were statistically significant differences between the high-adherence group and the moderate/poor-adherence group, the latter showing lower scores for the "radiological findings" domain of the S-K clinical score (p = 0.030), a greater number of hospitalizations (p = 0.004), and more days of hospitalization in the last year (p = 0.012), as well as lower scores for the quality of life questionnaire domains emotion (p = 0.002), physical (p = 0.019), treatment burden (p < 0.001), health perceptions (p = 0.036), social (p = 0.039), and respiratory (p = 0.048). Conclusions : Low self-reported adherence to physical therapy recommendations was associated with worse radiological findings, a greater number of hospitalizations, and decreased quality of life in pediatric CF patients.

Objetivo : Avaliar o grau de adesão autorrelatada às recomendações fisioterapêuticas em pacientes pediátricos (6-17 anos) com fibrose cística (FC) e determinar se os diferentes níveis de adesão se correlacionam com a função pulmonar, aspectos clínicos e qualidade de vida. Métodos : Estudo transversal no qual os pacientes e responsáveis responderam um questionário sobre a adesão à fisioterapia recomendada e um questionário da qualidade de vida em FC. Foram coletados dados demográficos, espirométricos e bacteriológicos, assim como a frequência de internações e resultados do escore clínico de Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K). Resultados : Participaram 66 pacientes. As médias de idade, VEF1 (em % do previsto) e IMC foram, respectivamente, 12,2 ± 3,2 anos, 90 ± 24% e 18,3 ± 2,5 kg/m2. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: alta adesão (n = 39) e moderada/baixa adesão (n = 27). Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas para idade, sexo, renda familiar e escore clínico de S-K total na comparação dos dois grupos. Houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos alta adesão e moderada/baixa adesão, este último mostrando valores significativamente menores para o domínio "achados radiológicos" do escore clínico de S-K apresentou (p = 0,030), um maior número de hospitalizações (p = 0,004) e de dias de internação no último ano (p = 0,012), assim como menores escores para os seguintes domínios do questionário de qualidade de vida: emocional (p = 0,002), físico (p = 0,019), tratamento (p < 0,001), saúde (p = 0,036), social (p = 0,039) e respiratório (p = 0,048). Conclusões : A baixa adesão autorrelatada às recomendações fisioterapêuticas associou-se com piores achados radiológicos, maior número de hospitalizações e diminuição da qualidade de vida em pacientes pediátricos com FC.

Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in a Cohort of Adults With Cystic Fibrosis: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: Due to the heterogeneity of cystic fibrosis (CF), the longer survival observed in cohorts of adult subjects, and inter-population variations, there is a clear need to seek further information about clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in different cohorts of subjects with CF. Our objectives were to evaluate clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in a cohort of adult subjects with CF after a 7-y follow-up period and investigate longitudinal changes in clinical scores, spirometry, 6-min walk test performance, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure as assessed by Doppler echocardiography. METHODS: A cohort of clinically stable subjects (≥16 y old) who were enrolled in an adult CF program in 2004-2005 underwent clinical evaluation. Outcome was classified as good (survival) or poor (survival with lung transplantation or death). In 2011-2012, survivors were re-examined. RESULTS: Of 40 subjects with CF evaluated in 2004-2005, 32 (80%) survived, 2 (5%) survived with lung transplantation, and 6 (15%) died. Logistic regression analysis showed that a low percent-of-predicted FEV1 was associated with poor outcome. An FEV1 cut-off value of ≤30% and pulmonary artery systolic pressure of ≥42 mm Hg predicted poor outcome with high sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Deterioration was observed in clinical scores (P = .03), FVC (P = .02), FEV1 (P < .001), distance walked in the 6-min walk test (P = .002), baseline SpO2 (P < .001), and final SpO2 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: After 7 y of follow-up, 20% of subjects with CF had a poor outcome. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure of ≥42 mm Hg and FEV1 of ≤30% were the most significant prognostic predictors of poor outcome. Clinical and functional deterioration was observed in survivors.

Adherence to airway clearance therapies by adult cystic fibrosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Airway clearance therapy (ACT) is critical in cystic fibrosis (CF). OBJECTIVES: To determine rates of self-reported adherence to ACT by patients treated in an adult CF program, to identify patient characteristics associated with poor adherence, to typify adherence according to ACT technique, and to indicate reasons for poor adherence. METHODS: Our cross-sectional study included CF subjects age 16 years and older. Enrollees were evaluated via general structured questionnaire, adherence questionnaire, clinical assessment, spirometry, and S(pO(2)) values. Each was stratified by self-reporting protocol as high, moderate, or poor adherence to ACT. Concordance between physiotherapist recommended ACT technique and self-reported subject adherence was subjected to agreement analysis. RESULTS: Of the 63 subjects studied, 38 (60%) qualified as high adherence, 12 (19%) as moderate adherence, and 13 (21%) as poor adherence. Logistic regression identified education level (less than high school) as an independent factor associated with poor adherence (odds ratio 10.2, 95% CI 1.23-84.7, P = .03). Positive expiratory pressure (κ = 0.87) and flutter device (κ = 0.63) usage both corresponded with a high level of agreement, while active cycle of breathing technique (κ = 0.40) and autogenic drainage (κ = 0.39) each showed moderate agreement. Agreement was low for percussion and postural drainage (κ = 0.23). Reasons given most frequently for poor adherence to ACT were "not enough time to do ACT" (28%), "cannot be bothered" (16%), and "do not enjoy ACT technique" (8%). Many (32%) provided no reason. CONCLUSIONS: Study outcomes showed a high rate of ACT adherence in adult CF subjects. Lower level of education was the most important factor in poor adherence to ACT. Self-reported adherence and treatment recommendations were in best agreement with positive expiratory pressure and flutter device techniques.