Newborn screening alone insufficient to improve pulmonary outcomes for cystic fibrosis

Although convincing evidence exists that newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF) leads to better nutritional outcomes [1 –4], there has been a paucity of studies evaluating long-term pulmonary and mortality outcomes. To our knowledge, only one previously published study compared cohort mortality with or without screening, and this evaluation suggested that better survival occurred after early diagnosis in New South Wales, Australia [5]. Our previous comparative assessment of lung function parameters in children up to the age of 16 years old enrolled and followed in the Wisconsin CF Neonatal Screening Project (hereafter, the Project) found no difference between the group identified early by NBS and the concurre nt (“control”) group which generally presented with signs/symptoms [6].

Source: Journal of Cystic Fibrosis - June 12, 2020 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Christina B. Barreda, Philip M. Farrell, Anita Laxova, Jens C. Eickhoff, Andrew T. Braun, Ryan J. Coller, Michael J. Rock Source Type: research