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

Abstract

Nutritional status and growth play an important part in determining the prognosis in cystic fibrosis (CF). In South Africa, the median survival of patients with CP is 18 years. Using chart review, we studied the pattern of growth over time of a South African CP population. The percentages of expected weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height were determined for each patient in 1986 (n = 49) and 1996 (n = 63). Mean indices were the same in the two years. In 1996, mean weight for-age of children aged 5-10 years was 94.2 per cent (SD 20.4), 14.3 per cent higher (p < 0.05, 95 per cent confidence intervals 3-25 per cent) than children of the same age in 1986. Improved growth of young children with CF has been achieved in a resource-poor country setting the scene for improved prognosis.