Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis is associated with reduced treatment intensity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the improved clinical status after newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF) segregates with increased therapeutic intervention compared with presentation by clinical diagnosis (CD).


METHODS
In 2002, two populations (1 to 9 years of age) who presented (excluding meconium ileus) by NBS < or = 3 months of age or by CD were compared in an observational, cross-sectional design. NBS and CD populations (184 and 950 patients, respectively) were divided into 3-year age groups (1 to 3, 4 to 6, and 7 to 9 years). Therapies of duration >3 months were compared together with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection status.


RESULTS
NBS patients < or = 6 years of age received significantly fewer and less demanding therapies not explained by age, genotype, geography, or social deprivation. In 7- to 9-year-olds, significantly fewer NBS patients received intravenous antibiotics. NBS patients without P aeruginosa infection received significantly fewer therapies, but no differences were found between intermittently or chronically infected NBS and CD populations. Comparable results were found in deltaF508/deltaF508 subpopulations.


CONCLUSIONS
CF populations diagnosed by NBS are associated with reduced treatment compared with age- and genotype-matched CD control subjects.
Sims
Erika J
EJ
United Kingdom Cystic Fibrosis Database, Division of Maternal and Child Health Sciences, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.
McCormick
Jonathan
J
Mehta
Gita
G
Mehta
Anil
A
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008134:Long-Term Care; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D006113:United Kingdom