Vitality is associated with systemic inflammation in cystic fibrosis adults on elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor

Fatigue is common among adults with cystic fibrosis (awCF) and may be associated with systemic inflammation. This study examines systemic inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein (CRP), and fatigue, assessed using the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R) vitality domain, in individuals initiating elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy. In a cohort of 61 awCF from St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, CRP and vitality were measured at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-ETI initiation. We observed reductions in CRP and increases in vitality over the 12-month period. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the relationship between CRP and vitality adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and lung function. Our findings demonstrated a significant, independent inverse association between CRP and vitality. These results highlight the potential role of systemic inflammation in influencing vitality in awCF undergoing ETI therapy. Further research incorporating additional inflammatory markers and psychosocial variables is warranted to deepen our understanding of fatigue mechanisms in this population.