Pulmonary function disparities exist and persist in Hispanic patients with cystic fibrosis: A longitudinal analysis.

BACKGROUND

Hispanic patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have decreased life expectancy compared to non-Hispanic white patients. Pulmonary function is a main predictor of life expectancy in CF. Ethnic differences in pulmonary function in CF have been understudied. The objective was to compare longitudinal pulmonary function between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients with CF.

METHODS

This cohort study of 15 018 6-25 years old patients in the CF Foundation Patient Registry from 2008 to 2013 compared FEV percent predicted and longitudinal change in FEV percent predicted in Hispanic to non-Hispanic white patients. We used linear mixed effects models with patient-specific slopes and intercepts, adjusting for 14 demographic and clinical variables. We did sub-analyses by CFTR class, F508del copies, and PERT use.

RESULTS

Hispanic patients had lower FEV percent predicted (79.9%) compared with non-Hispanic white patients (85.6%); (-5.8%, 95%CI -6.7% to -4.8%, P < 0.001), however, there was no difference in FEV decline over time. Patients on PERT had a larger difference between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients in FEV percent predicted than patients not on PERT (-6.0% vs -4.1%, P = 0.02). The ethnic difference in FEV percent predicted was not statistically significant between CFTR classes (Class I-III: -6.1%, Class IV-V: -5.9%, Unclassified: -5.7%, P > 0.05) or between F508del copies (None: -7.6%, Heterozygotes: -5.6%, Homozygotes: -5.3%, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities in pulmonary function exist in Hispanic patients with CF early in life and then persist without improving or worsening over time. It is valuable to investigate the factors contributing to pulmonary function in Hispanic patients with CF.