Identifying disparities in pediatric cystic fibrosis care between low-middle and middle-high income countries in the Middle East

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) care has advanced tremendously in the United States (US), North America, Australasia, and Europe in recent decades. Given the concern for global disparities in pediatric medical care in other parts of the world, we wanted to assess the availability of key aspects of current pediatric CF care in the Middle East as- compared to the US. We collected electronic surveys from pediatric CF providers in the Middle East and surrounding countries assessing whether treatments known to be widely available in the US were also available in surveyed countries. Many countries in the Middle East, as-compared to the US, do have less overall availability of many key CF diagnostic and treatment modalities. Within the Middle East, 80 % of higher-income countries had inhaled tobramycin available compared to none in lower-income countries. This study highlights the additional global collaboration needed to ensure all children with CF receive optimal care globally.