Decreased lung function in female but not male subjects with established cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Although cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is associated with decreased lung function, sex is not known to influence CFRD. However, compared with male subjects with cystic fibrosis, female subjects with cystic fibrosis have increased morbidity. This study examines the association between female subjects with CFRD and poor lung function relative to male subjects using the percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) as a surrogate measure of morbidity.


METHODS
We compared 323 patients with established CFRD with 489 cystic fibrosis control subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) listed in the U.K. Cystic Fibrosis Database. Patients stratified by sex and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were compared using binary logistic regression, and patients with new CFRD diagnoses were compared prospectively for the year 2002.


RESULTS
CFRD in female subjects (but not male subjects) without chronic P. aeruginosa infection had a 20% lower percent predicted FEV(1) compared with control subjects with NGT (95% CI -11.7 to -27.7; P < 0.0001). Genotype, age, treatment center, age at diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, pregnancy, liver function, or dose of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy did not confound this female disadvantage. Comparison of female subjects with newly diagnosed CFRD free of chronic P. aeruginosa infection with matched control subjects with NGT showed no FEV(1) disadvantage in the 1st year after CFRD diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Only female subjects with CFRD have significantly decreased lung function compared with sex-matched NGT control subjects. The absence of poor lung function in the first 12 months after diagnosis of diabetes suggests that an opportunity may exist to intervene and possibly prevent a decline in lung function, which can be as much as 20% in female subjects with CFRD.
Division of Maternal and Child Health Sciences, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. e.j.sims@dundee.ac.uk
Erika J
EJ
Sims
Michael W
MW
Green
Anil
A
Mehta
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D006113:United Kingdom
D001786:Blood Glucose