[Cystic fibrosis care in transition from adolescence to adult age]. / Betreuung von Mukoviszidosepatienten beim Ubergang vom Jugendalter zum Erwachsenen.

ABSTRACT

During the last 30 years, life expectancy in patients with cystic fibrosis has significantly improved. In Germany, almost half of the 8500 patients are 18 years or older. Older patients have increased rates of cystic fibrosis typical complications, In addition the characteristic complications of adulthood, including arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases, occur. Also crisis of marriage or loss of work place, as well as family planning measures including in-vitro-fertilization are problems merely of the adult cystic fibrosis patient. Therefore adult patients should be treated in a centre specialized on adults. At the moment, in Germany only one third of all adult patients are followed up in an adult center, many patients are treated in age-independent centers, and also a significant number is treated in small clinics. In this article models for transition currently established in Germany are described and occurring problems with their implementation are discussed.