title: Effects of rehabilitation winter camps at the Dead Sea on European cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rehabilitation camps can improve exercise tolerance and nutrition in cystic fibrosis patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess weight gain, pulmonary function tests and daily symptoms in European CF patients attending a rehabilitation camp at the Dead Sea, Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study assessing 94 CF patients who participated in winter camps held at the Dead Sea, Israel from 1997 to 2000. The camp program included daily physiotherapy, physical activities, and a high caloric diet. We assessed weight gain, pulmonary function tests, oxyhemoglobin saturation and daily symptoms before (pre), on departure (dep), and up to 3 months after the 3 week rehabilitation camp (post). All data were analyzed by ANOVA for repetitive measurements. P < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lung function tests and oxyhemoglobin saturation taken before, on departure and 3 months after camp were available for 35 patients. Forced expiratory volume in the first second (% predicted, average +/- SD) improved by 8.2 +/- 2.3% (pre, dep, post, P < 0.05). Oxyhemoglobin saturation mildly improved (1 +/- 0.3%, pre, dep, post, P < 0.05). Forced vital capacity (% predicted) increased by 3.9 +/- 1.2%, but was not significant (P = 0.19). Total body weight of 89 patients improved by 1.9 +/- 0.9% during the camp time (P < 0.05, t-test), and in a group of 24 patients weight continuously increased up to 5.0 +/- 1.7% at 3 months after the camp (P = 0.004, ANOVA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this attrition-limited retrospective study, European CF patients improved their pulmonary function and gained weight during and up to 3 months after a 3 week rehabilitation winter camp at the Dead Sea, Israel.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. avivgold@bgu.ac.il
authors: Aviv D
authors: AD
authors: Goldbart
authors: Arnon D
authors: AD
authors: Cohen
authors: Dahlia
authors: D
authors: Weitzman
authors: Asher
authors: A
authors: Tal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D011998:Recreation; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D010108:Oxyhemoglobins