Management of comorbidities in older patients with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Several key advances have been made in the treatment and management of people with cystic fibrosis in the past two decades. Substantial improvements in survival have resulted from the introduction of key drugs, coordinated care packages, improved nutritional support, and the intensive use of antibiotics. The age profile of people with cystic fibrosis has changed greatly during this time-some countries now have more adult than paediatric patients with the disease. With their increasing age and more advanced lung disease, several important sequelae (both pulmonary and extrapulmonary) occur in these adult patients including pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, renal disease, metabolic bone disease, cancers, drug allergies and toxic effects, and complications associated with lung transplantation.