Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) have currently created a different scenario for this disease. Previously confined to the pediatric age range, today in developed countries CF is more common among adult patients. In addition, several cases of milder presentations are being diagnosed in older patients with chronic respiratory symptoms and no pancreatic involvement or malnutrition. New drugs continue to be developed, including new molecules that recover the CFTR function and act directly on the basic defect of the disease with a promising impact on patient survival.
Several specialized care centers for pediatric CF patients are distributed in different Brazilian states. However, there is a shortage of centers prepared to care for adult patients.
In an initiative supported by the Brazilian Society of Pulmonology and Phthisiology (SBPT) and the Brazilian Cystic Fibrosis Study Group (GBEFC), the 1st InCor – HCFMUSP Meeting on Cystic Fibrosis in Adults was held from February 9 to 11, 2017. The event was attended by 12 pulmonologists from different Brazilian states with the purpose of exchanging experiences, discussing barriers to the implementation of an adult CF care center, and promoting scientific update. In addition to lectures, practical activities were conducted by a multidisciplinary team and visits were made to the premises of Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo. This meeting aimed to bring together CF physicians, disseminate information on the disease, and, above all, improve the care of patients with CF in Brazil.
Dr. Rodrigo Abensur Athanazio
Coordinator at the SBPT Cystic Fibrosis Committee
Assistant Physician at the Department of Pulmonology at InCor – HCFMUSP
12/02/2017