Pneumothorax in cystic fibrosis

Patrick A. Flume, Charlie Strange, Xiaobu Ye, Myla Ebeling, Thomas Hulsey, Leslie L. Clark

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

88 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous pneumothorax is a complication that is commonly reported in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). An understanding of the pathophysiology of this complication and its consequences is important for the management of patients with CF. Objective: To identify risk factors associated with pneumothorax and to determine the prognosis of CF patients following an episode of pneumothorax. Design: A retrospective observational cohort study of the National Cystic Fibrosis Patient Registry between the years 1990 and 1999. Patients: The registry contained data on 28,858 patients with CF who had been followed up over those 10 years at CF centers across the United States. Results: Pneumothorax occurred with an average annual incidence of 0.64% and in 3.4% of patients overall. There was no increased occurrence by sex, but CF was more prevalent in older patients (mean [± SD] age, 21.9 ± 9.1 years) with more severe pulmonary impairment (nearly 75% of patients with FEV 1 of < 40% predicted). The principal risks associated with an increased occurrence of pneumothorax included the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (odds ratio [OR], 2.3), Burkholderia cepacia (OR, 1.8), or Aspergillus (OR, 1.3) in sputum cultures, FEV1 < 30% predicted (OR, 1.5), enteral feeding (OR, 1.7), Medicaid insurance (OR, 1.1), pancreatic insufficiency (OR, 1.4), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (OR, 1.5), and massive hemoptysis (OR, 1.4). There is an increased morbidity (eg, increased number of hospitalizations and number of days spent in the hospital) and an increased 2-year mortality rate following pneumothorax. Conclusion: Pneumothorax is a serious complication in CF patients, occurring more commonly in older patients with more advanced lung disease. Nearly 1 in 167 patients will experience this complication each year. There is an attributable mortality to the complication and considerable morbidity, resulting in increased health-care utilization and a measurable decline in lung function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)720-728
Number of pages9
JournalCHEST
Volume128
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Lung disease
  • Pneumothorax

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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