According to a new study, non-white newborns with cystic fibrosis are more likely to be missed in screening than white newborns. The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that while the overall rate of CF screening among all newborns has increased in recent years, the rates for non-white newborns remain lower.
CF is a chronic and progressive disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. It is most common in people of European descent, but is also found in other populations. In the United States, CF affects about 30,000 people, and is the most common lethal genetic disease in Caucasians.
There is no cure for CF, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve quality of life and extend life expectancy. Newborn screening for CF is recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics and is included in most state newborn screening programs.
The new study used data from the CF Foundation Patient Registry to examine CF screening rates among newborns born in the US between 2009 and 2013. The data showed that while the overall rate of CF screening increased from 79% to 86% during that time period, the rates for non-white newborns remained lower, at 72% in 2009 and only 69% in 2013.
The study authors say that the lower rates of CF screening among non-white newborns are likely due to a number of factors, including lower rates of insurance coverage and access to care, and a lack of awareness about the importance of CF screening among both medical providers and the general public.
The authors say that the findings highlight the need for targeted efforts to improve CF screening rates among non-white newborns. They also emphasize the importance of newborn screening programs in general, as they can lead to early diagnosis and treatment of a range of serious conditions.
A new study has found that non-white newborns with cystic fibrosis (CF) are more likely to be missed in screening than white newborns with CF.
The study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, looked at data from the U.S. CF Foundation Patient Registry. It found that among 4,032 CF diagnosed patients, 4.3% were non-white.
However, when the team looked at the data from CF newborn screening programs, they found that only 2.7% of those screened were non-white.
This means that non-white newborns with CF are about 1.6 times more likely to be missed in screening than white newborns with CF.
The authors say that this disparity may be due to a number of factors, including socioeconomic factors, access to care, and implicit racial bias.
They say that further research is needed to understand why this disparity exists and how to address it. In the meantime, they say that CF newborn screening programs should be aware of the possibility that they are missing non-white newborns with CF.
