Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis is associated with reduced treatment intensity

Objectives To determine whether the improved clinical status after newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF) segregates with increased therapeutic intervention compared with presentation by clinical diagnosis (CD). Study design In 2002, two populations (1 to 9 years of age) who presented (excluding meconium ileus) by NBS: 3 months of age or by CD were compared in an observational, cross-sectional design. NBS and CD populations (184 and 950 patients, respectively) were divided into 3-year age groups (1 to 3, 4 to 6, and 7 to 9 years). Therapies of duration > 3 months were compared together with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection status. Results NBS patients <= 6 years of age received significantly fewer and less demanding therapies not explained by age, genotype, geography, or social deprivation. In 7- to 9-year-olds, significantly fewer NBS patients received intravenous antibiotics. NBS patients without P aeruginosa infection received significantly fewer therapies, but no differences were found between intermittently or chronically infected NBS and CD populations. Comparable results were found in Delta F508/Delta F508 subpopulations. Conclusions CIF populations diagnosed by NBS are associated with reduced treatment compared with age- and genotype-matched CD control subjects.