Socioeconomic status and the likelihood of antibiotic treatment for signs and symptoms of pulmonary exacerbation in children with cystic fibrosis

Michael S. Schechter, Susanna A. McColley, Warren Regelmann, Stefanie J. Millar, David J. Pasta, Jeffrey S. Wagener, Michael W. Konstan, Wayne J. Morgan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether socioeconomic status (SES) influences the likelihood of antibiotic treatment of pulmonary exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Study design: We used data on 9895 patients ≤18 years old from the Epidemiologic Study of CF. After establishing an individual baseline of clinical signs and symptoms, we ascertained whether antibiotics were prescribed when new signs/symptoms suggested a pulmonary exacerbation, adjusting for sex, presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the number of new signs/symptoms, and baseline disease severity. Results: In a 12-month period, 20.0% of patients <6 years of age, 33.8% of patients 6 to 12 years of age, and 41.4% of patients 13 to 18 years of age were treated with any (oral, intravenous (IV), or inhaled) antibiotics; the percentage receiving IV antibiotics was 7.3%, 15.2%, and 20.9%, respectively. SES had little effect on treatment for pulmonary exacerbation with any antibiotics, but IV antibiotics were prescribed more frequently for patients with lower SES. Conclusions: SES-related disparities in CF health outcomes do not appear to be explained by differential treatment of pulmonary exacerbations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)819-824.e1
JournalJournal of Pediatrics
Volume159
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

Keywords

  • CF
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • ESCF
  • Epidemiologic Study of Cystic Fibrosis
  • Forced expiratory volume in 1 second
  • IV
  • Intravenous
  • MA
  • MEA
  • MIZ
  • Maternal educational attainment
  • Median household income by zip code
  • Medicaid or state insurance
  • SES
  • Socioeconomic status

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Socioeconomic status and the likelihood of antibiotic treatment for signs and symptoms of pulmonary exacerbation in children with cystic fibrosis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this