An Evaluation of the Risk Factors and Respiratory Function Test Change of Children with Cystic Fibrosis Who Contracted COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was declared a global pandemic in March 2020, with millions of infected cases worldwide. Although the course is usually mild in the pediatric age group, there are unknown factors in patients with chronic lung diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the demographic characteristics and the clinical course of patients with cystic fibrosis who contracted COVID-19 infection. Methods A total of 128 patients with cystic fibrosis who were under follow-up in our clinic were separated into two groups: those who had been infected with COVID-19 and those who had not. The COVID-19-positive patients were then grouped as those who were hospitalized and those treated as outpatients. In the COVID-19 group, the spirometry values of the patients before the infection were compared with those measured at 3 and 6 months after the infection. Results The COVID-19 group comprised 34 (25.6%) cystic fibrosis patients with a mean age of 108.2 ± 60.8 months who contracted COVID-19 between April 2020 and October 2022. The rates of chronic bacterial colonization and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (p = 0.001 and 0.005). Eight of the 34 patients were hospitalized, and 26 were isolated at home. Five patients required oxygen, and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) values were lower. Conclusion A severe course of COVID-19 was not seen in any of the cystic fibrosis patients. A greater number of patients with chronic respiratory tract bacterial colonization and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis were hospitalized.