title: Epidemiologic study of cystic fibrosis: design and implementation of a prospective, multicenter, observational study of patients with cystic fibrosis in the U.S. and Canada.
abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a complex illness characterized by chronic lung infection leading to deterioration in function and respiratory failure in over 85% of patients. An understanding of the risk factors for that progression and the interaction of these factors with current therapeutic strategies should materially improve the prevention of this progressive lung disease. The Epidemiologic Study of Cystic Fibrosis (ESCF) was therefore designed as a multicenter, longitudinal, observational study to prospectively collect detailed clinical, therapeutic, microbiologic, and lung function data from a large number of CF treatment sites in the U.S. and Canada. The ESCF also serves an important role as a phase-IV study of dornase alfa. To be eligible for enrollment, subjects must have the diagnosis of CF and receive the majority of their care at an ESCF site. In this paper, the authors present the ESCF study design in detail. Further, enrollment data collected at 194 study sites in 18,411 subjects enrolled from December 1, 1993 to December 31, 1995 are presented in summary form. This comprehensive study is unique in the detail of clinical data collected regarding patient monitoring and therapeutic practices in CF care. Two companion articles present data regarding practice patterns in cystic fibrosis care, including data on resource utilization and prescribing practices.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Colin
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: FitzSimmons
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Konstan
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Light
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rabin
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Regelmann
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Schidlow
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wohl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaplowitz
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stryker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology