Clinico-epidemiological Characteristics of Children with Cystic Fibrosis: a Tertiary Care Experience.

To describe the clinico-epidemiological characteristics of pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) cases among Bangladeshi paediatric population was the objective of the study. This observational study included pediatric patients (up to 14 years of age) with a clinical diagnosis of CF. Data were collected within the period from April 2021 to October 2021. Informed assent was taken from the accompanying parent. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were analyzed on the basis of demographic data, medical history, laboratory tests and outcome information. Collected data were analyzed statistical software, SPSS 26.0. A total of 50 patients (66.0% male) with a mean±SD age of 39.7±30.75 months were included. Twenty-eight patients (57.14%) had siblings with CF and 41.67% of parents had a history of consanguineous marriage. The majority of them were stunted (86.0%) and underweight (86.0%) and half of them had wasting (54.0%). Median disease duration was 12 months (range: 2-72). Cough (100.0%) and purulent sputum (100.0%) were the predominant respiratory symptoms, while failure to thrive (98.0%) and bulky offensive stools (86.0%) were prime gastrointestinal symptoms. Among the signs, malnutrition (94.0%), short stature (72.0%), digital clubbing (64.0%) and bronchiectasis (40.0%) were most frequent. Pulmonary hypertension (48.0%, n=24) was the most common comorbidity identified in the study participants. In hospital, mortality was 16.0% (n=8). Digital clubbing, bronchiectasis, pancreatic insufficiency and abnormal liver function tests were significantly higher in the patient who died. Children with cystic fibrosis most commonly present with under nutrition and respiratory symptoms. Failure to thrive was almost a global phenomenon. Pulmonary hypertension was the most common complication found in echocardiography.