Demographic transition of the Swedish cystic fibrosis community--results of modern care

Abstract

Assessing the results of modern cystic fibrosis (CF)-care and estimating the future population and its demography is important to evaluate the treatment regimens and to calculate the future needs of health-care resources. This paper updates previous incidence calculations. It assesses the results of modern CF-care in terms of survival and changing demography in Sweden. The incidence of CF in Sweden was calculated as 1/5600 live-births. Of the CF-population alive in 1999, 45% were > or = 18 years old. The mean annual mortality rate since 1991 was 0.9% (+/-0.4) and the median age at death 26 years (range 0-72). Of those born > or = 1991, 95% were estimated to survive their 25th birthday. The incidence of CF in Sweden is low. Modern CF-care in Sweden shows good results. The CF-population is growing rapidly and the adult part of the population will soon be larger than the paediatric. Continuously adapted resources are required to assure the future treatment quality especially for the growing adult CF-population.