%0 Journal Article %J J Cyst Fibros %D 2018 %T The effect of enteral tube feeding in cystic fibrosis: A registry based study. %A Denis Libeert %A Dimitri Declercq %A Simeon Wanyama %A Muriel Thomas %A Sabine Van Daele %A Frans De Baets %A Stephanie Van Biervliet %K Cystic Fibrosis %K Gastrostomy %K Malnutrition %K Pulmonary function %K Tube feeding %X

BACKGROUND: Long-term effect of enteral tube feeding (ETF) in cystic fibrosis (CF) remains equivocal.

METHODS: A Belgian CF registry based, retrospective, longitudinal study, evaluated the pre- and post- ETF (n = 113) clinical evolution and compared each patient with 2 age, gender, pancreatic status and genotype class-matched controls.

RESULTS: At baseline ETF had a worse BMI z-score (p < 0.0001) and FEV1% (p < 0.0001) compared to controls. Patients eventually receiving ETF, had already a significant worse nutritional status and pulmonary function at first entry in the registry. Both parameters displayed a significant decline before ETF-introduction. ETF had more hospitalization and intravenous antibiotic (IVAB) treatment days (p < 0.0001). After ETF introduction hospitalizations and IVAB decreased significantly. After ETF-introduction BMI z-score recuperated towards the original curve before the decline, but remained below the controls. Starting ETF had no effect on rate of height gain in children. The pre-index FEV1 decline (-1.52%/year (p = 0.002)) stabilized to +0.39%/year afterwards. Controls displayed decline of -0.48%/year (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: ETF introduction improved BMI z-score and stabilized FEV1, associated with less hospitalizations and IVAB treatments. Higher mortality and transplantation in the ETF cases, leading to drop-outs, made determination of the effect size difficult.

%B J Cyst Fibros %V 17 %8 2018 Mar %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1016/j.jcf.2018.01.004