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Coronaviruses

COVID-19 Risk in Cystic Fibrosis Patients Not as High as Expected

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from the University of Calgary have conducted a systematic review to determine if individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at a higher risk of COVID-19 or its adverse consequences. The study found that although CF patients generally experience acute exacerbations of lung disease from infectious agents, COVID-19 incidence estimates in CF appear to be lower than in the general population. However, subsets of CF patients, such as those who had organ transplants, may experience a more severe COVID-19 course.

Key Takeaways:

  • COVID-19 incidence estimates in CF patients appear to be lower than in the general population, with 6 evaluable studies reporting on a total of 339 individuals with CF who developed COVID-19.
  • Individuals with CF generally experience acute exacerbations of lung disease from infectious agents, but COVID-19 incidence estimates in CF appear to be lower than in the general population.
  • Subsets of CF patients, such as those who had organ transplants, may experience a more severe COVID-19 course.
  • Potential protective mechanisms in the CF population include pre-pandemic social isolation practices, infection prevention and control knowledge, altered expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme, and the use of certain medications.
  • Systematic review: cystic fibrosis in the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 2021, 21(1):1-11.

Statistics:

  • 339 individuals with CF who developed COVID-19 were included in the study.
  • The study found that COVID-19 incidence estimates in CF appear to be lower than in the general population.
  • 6 evaluable studies were included in the study.
  • The study was conducted using EMBASE and Medline between April 28 and December 10, 2020.
  • The primary goal of the review was to systematically survey published accounts of COVID-19 in CF and determine if individuals with CF are disproportionally affected by SARS-CoV-2 and development of COVID-19.

Sources:

  • Systematic review: cystic fibrosis in the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 2021, 21(1):1-11. (BMC Pulmonary Medicine - http://bmcpulmmed.biomedcentral.com)
  • A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12890-021-01528-0.

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