TY - JOUR

T1 - Improved early growth in Danish children with cystic fibrosis from 2000-2022

AU - Bader-Larsen, Karlen

AU - Faurholt-Jepsen, Daniel

AU - Bryrup, Thomas

AU - Henriksen, Esben Herborg

AU - Olesen, Hanne Vebert

AU - Pressler, Tacjana

AU - Skov, Marianne

AU - Olsen, Mette Frahm

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Background: Improved growth in children with CF may have resulted from advances in treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF) over the past two decades, including the implementation of newborn screening in Denmark in 2016. This observational cohort study focuses on changes in early growth in Danish children with CF born between 2000 and January 2022. Methods: Age, length/height, and weight data of children 0–5 years old were obtained from the Danish CF Cohort. Data were stratified to four birth cohorts born between 2000 and 2022. Weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and body-mass-index (BMZ) z-scores were computed using WHO growth curves. Cubic spline mixed effects models were used to evaluate growth over 5 years between birth cohorts. Results: We included 255 children in the analyses. Cubic spline mixed effects models show that catch-up growth improved in birth cohorts over time, with the 2016–2022 birth cohort achieving growth reference curve values in WAZ, LAZ/HAZ and BMZ the earliest. The proportion of underweight and stunting observations among children born 2000–2004 decreased by the 2016–2022 birth cohort, while the proportion of overweight, low BMZ and high BMZ observations increased. Conclusion: Advances in care for young children with CF have led to improvements in growth – with the 2016–2022 birth cohort approaching potential for overweight. Nonetheless, low BMZ remains. Immediate, individualized nutrition care throughout early childhood remain crucial in mitigating malnutrition.

AB - Background: Improved growth in children with CF may have resulted from advances in treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF) over the past two decades, including the implementation of newborn screening in Denmark in 2016. This observational cohort study focuses on changes in early growth in Danish children with CF born between 2000 and January 2022. Methods: Age, length/height, and weight data of children 0–5 years old were obtained from the Danish CF Cohort. Data were stratified to four birth cohorts born between 2000 and 2022. Weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and body-mass-index (BMZ) z-scores were computed using WHO growth curves. Cubic spline mixed effects models were used to evaluate growth over 5 years between birth cohorts. Results: We included 255 children in the analyses. Cubic spline mixed effects models show that catch-up growth improved in birth cohorts over time, with the 2016–2022 birth cohort achieving growth reference curve values in WAZ, LAZ/HAZ and BMZ the earliest. The proportion of underweight and stunting observations among children born 2000–2004 decreased by the 2016–2022 birth cohort, while the proportion of overweight, low BMZ and high BMZ observations increased. Conclusion: Advances in care for young children with CF have led to improvements in growth – with the 2016–2022 birth cohort approaching potential for overweight. Nonetheless, low BMZ remains. Immediate, individualized nutrition care throughout early childhood remain crucial in mitigating malnutrition.

KW - Body-mass-index

KW - Height

KW - Length

KW - Malnourishment

KW - Malnutrition

KW - Newborn screening

KW - Overweight

KW - Stunting

KW - Underweight

KW - Weight

KW - Z-score

U2 - 10.1016/j.jcf.2024.05.009

DO - 10.1016/j.jcf.2024.05.009

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38789318

AN - SCOPUS:85194067823

JO - Journal of Cystic Fibrosis

JF - Journal of Cystic Fibrosis

SN - 1569-1993

ER -