Cystic fibrosis: a system for assessing and predicting progression.

Abstract

The age-based curve, a structural anatomic parameter, differs from pulmonary function studies, which are functional. Thus the age-based severity curve provides an additional, independent basis for comparison between groups and individuals. It may be used for the initial assessment of lung disease and for gauging and predicting the rate of decline. The curve may be used as a long-range outcome criterion to evaluate new treatments in groups of patients with cystic fibrosis.