Longitudinal assessment of health-related quality of life in an observational cohort of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly used to evaluate the efficacy of new treatments and the progression of chronic diseases. The Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R) is a disease-specific, PRO measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We evaluated associations between changes in health status over time and HRQOL in a national CF database.

Impact of pregnancy on women with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Improvements in the health and survival of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have led to increasingly normal lifestyles, including successful pregnancies in women with CF. Concern exists among care providers about the impact of pregnancy on the health of women with CF.

Study Objectives: We examined data from a large longitudinal observational study, the Epidemiologic Study of Cystic Fibrosis (ESCF), to characterize health outcomes and CF-related therapies in women who became pregnant.

Peak flow meters in childhood asthma: parent report of use and perceived usefulness.

Introduction: Peak flow meters (PFMs) in children with moderate to severe asthma have been used to monitor changes in asthma status and inform treatment decisions. However, their usefulness and the likelihood of their long-term use by families remains controversial.

Methods: One hundred sixty-eight children ages 6 to 19 years were enrolled in a longitudinal randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of 3 different intensities of symptom monitoring on diverse clinical outcomes: subjective symptom monitoring, symptom-time PFM monitoring, and daily PFM monitoring.