NUTRITIONAL-STATUS AND PULMONARY-FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS WITH AND WITHOUT BURKHOLDERIA-CEPACIA COLONIZATION - ROLE OF SPECIALIST DIETETIC SUPPORT

We have studied the impact of the introduction of a specialist dieteti c service and Burkholderia cepacio colonization on nutrition and lung function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in Nottingham, over a 3-year period from 1990 to 1993. We performed cross-sectional analyses of al l patients attending the adult clinic (42 in 1990 and 48 in 1993) and longitudinal analysis of the 34 patients who were present in both year s. Nutritional status improved in the whole clinic population followin g the introduction of a specialist dietetic service in 1991. The prese nce of colonization with Burkholderia cepacia was associated with an a ccelerated decline in lung function compared with patients colonized w ith other organisms. Despite this decline, nutritional status was well maintained in both groups of patients. This study shows that the intr oduction of a specialized dietetic service can result in better nutrit ion even in patients with declining lung function.