New Statistics Show CF Patients Living Longer

The median age of survival for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has risen to 36.8 years, up from the previous year’s figure of 35.1 years, according to new data released by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Using its innovative CF patient registry, which tracks information on approximately 23,000 patients who receive care through the CF Foundation's Care Center Network, researchers analyze the numbers and assess trends in patients’ health status. The new median age of survival is based on 2005 data that includes date of birth, date of death, gender and date of diagnosis. A detailed CF Foundation Annual Patient Registry Data Report will be available to the public this fall.

As an interesting perspective, in the last four years alone, more than five years have been added to the median survival age of CF patients. The CF Foundation attributes the improvement in both the length and quality of life for CF patients to such factors as there are now more CF therapies than ever before--largely developed with the CF Foundation's support--and even more on the horizon. In addition, the standardization of care and the implementation of "best practices" throughout the CF Foundation's Care Center Network also are having an impact.

Posted 04/26/06