Cystic fibrosis in adolescents and adults in the Western region of Norway
Jentoft, H.F.; Gulsvik, A.; Fluge, G.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 105(34-36): 2454-2456
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 4089842 Document Number: 265562
A postal survey was organized to provide information on the prevalence, manifestations and treatment of cystic fibrosis in the western region of Norway with a population of 803000 inhabitants. A mail questionnaire was distributed to the 12 county hospitals. During the years 1980-82, 32 patients with CF have been recorded in the hospital files of Haukeland (29) and Rogaland (3) while no other case was primarily diagnosed in the other hospitals. Three patients were located outside the region. The overall male/female ratio was 17/12. The prevalence value was 3,6 per 100,000 inhabitants. No differences in geographic distribution of cystic fibrosis were observed among the three western areas. There were 13 respondents. The average age of patients was 19 years and the oldest CF-patient was 34 years old. The diagnosis of CF was made after the age of 12 in only four patients. Daily respiratory symptoms such as cough (11), expectoration (9), dyspnoea (5), tightness (5) and wheezing (3) occurred more frequently than abdominal pain (3) and diarrhoea (1). Antibiotics (9), nebulized acetylcysteine (9) and digestive enzymes (9) were regularly prescribed whereas beta-2 adrenergics (7) and other bronchodilators (3) were less frequently given. Neither physical therapy nor the PEEP-mask was used in four subjects with minor symptoms. One patient had a disability pension, three were working full time while nine were students. Follow up of adolescents and adults was as often done by pediatricians (7) as by consultants in internal and/or pulmonary medicine (6). The treatment and follow-up of CF in adolescents and adults should be organized as the regional hospitals by a team of physicians including a pediatrician and various organ experts.