Adherence to inhalation therapy and quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Inhalation therapy is a crucial part of the cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment regimen. Drugs that assist in mucociliary clearance and inhaled antibiotics are used by most patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study where patients with CF and their caregivers answered questionnaires regarding their adherence to inhalation therapy and QoL. Demographic, spirometric, and bacteriological data, as well as S-K scores and hospitalization frequencies were also collected. Results: We included 66 patients in this study; participants had a mean age of 12.3 years and Z-scores of -1.4 for forced expiratory volume in 1 second and 48.6 for body mass index. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their self-reported adherence to inhalation therapy: high adherence (n = 46) and moderate/low adherence (n = 20). When comparing both groups, there was no statistically significant differences in age, sex, family income, and S-K score (p > 0.05). The high-adherence group had had shorter hospitalization periods in the previous year (p = 0.016) and presented better scores in the following domains of the QoL questionnaire: emotion (p = 0.006), eating (p = 0.041), treatment burden (p = 0.001), health perception (p = 0.001), and social (p = 0.046). Conclusions: A low self-reported adherence to inhalation therapy recommendations was associated with longer hospitalizations in the previous year and with a decrease in QoL in pediatric patients with CF. (AU)

Physical activity and quality of life of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study / Atividade física e qualidade de vida de crianças e adolescentes com fibrose cística: um estudo transversal

Abstract Introduction: Regular physical activity (PA) is part of outpatient care offered to most people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Objective: To determine the frequency of the self-reported PA and, secondarily evaluate associations between PA with clinical variables and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediatric and adolescent CF subjects. Method: In this cross-sectional study, subjects between 6 and 17 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of CF were recruited in the outpatient clinic. The subjects answered questions about the practices of PA, HRQoL questionnaire and clinical variables were collected. Subjects were classified into two groups according to weekly PA practice: PA performed ≥ 3 times/week and performed PA ≤ 2 times/week. Results: 66 subjects completed the study, 72.7% (n=48) had PA ≥ 3 times/week and 27.2% (n=18) had PA ≤ 2 times/week. Only twelve children (18,2%) reached the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to practice moderate to vigorous physical activities daily. The mean age of the subjects evaluated was 12.3 ± 3.2 years, forced expiratory volume in one second 90 ± 24.1% and forced vital capacity 95 ± 20.4%. The group that performed PA ≥ 3 times/week had a better clinical score (p=0.033), a lower number of hospitalizations in the year (p=0.002), a lower number of days hospitalized in the last year (p=0.020) and better score for the physical (p=0.003) and emotion (p=0.048) domains in HRQoL questionnaire. Conclusion: This study concluded that most subjects did not reach the WHO recommendations for the practice of PA. However, individuals who practice PA at least 3 times/week have better HRQoL, clinical score and fewer hospitalizations.

Resumo Introdução: A atividade física regular (AF) faz parte do tratamento ambulatorial oferecido à maioria das pessoas com fibrose cística (FC). Objetivo: Determinar a frequência da AF autorreferida e secundariamente avaliar as associações entre AF e variáveis clínicas e de qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) em crianças e adolescentes com FC. Método: Neste estudo transversal, indivíduos entre 6 e 17 anos com diagnóstico confirmado de FC foram recrutados no ambulatório. Os sujeitos responderam perguntas sobre as práticas de AF, questionário de QVRS e variáveis clínicas. Os indivíduos foram classificados em dois grupos de acordo com a prática semanal de AF: AF realizada ≥3 vezes/semana e AF≤2 vezes/semana. Resultados: 66 indivíduos completaram o estudo, 72,7% (n=48) tinham AF ≥ 3 vezes/semana e 27,2% (n=18) tinham AF ≤ 2 vezes/semana. Apenas doze crianças (18,2%) alcançaram as recomendações da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) para praticar diariamente atividades físicas moderadas a vigorosas. A média de idade dos sujeitos avaliados foi de 12,3 ± 3,2 anos, volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo 90 ± 24,1% e capacidade vital forçada 95 ± 20,4%. O grupo que realizou AF ≥ 3 vezes/semana apresentou melhor escore clínico (p=0,033), menor número de internações no ano (p=0,002), menor número de dias hospitalizados no último ano (p=0,020) e melhor escore para os domínios físico (p=0,003) e emoção (p=0,048) no questionário de QVRS. Conclusão: Este estudo concluiu que a maioria dos indivíduos não alcançou as recomendações da OMS para a prática de AF. No entanto, indivíduos que praticam AF pelo menos 3 vezes/semana apresentam melhor QVRS, escore clínico e menos hospitalizações.