Prognosis Poor for Diabetic Women with CF

The prognosis for women with cystic fibrosis (CF) and diabetes is poor, comparedwith that for women with CF and no diabetes and with that for all men withCF. Researchers from the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) analyzed data on1081 individuals with CF over a 5-year period. Of the 1081 patients, 123 patientswith CF-related diabetes were identified; 58 were men.

As reported in Diabetes Care (September 2005), the researchers found that theaverage survival for men without diabetes was 49.5 years, and for those with diabetesit was 47.4 years. Women without diabetes had a survival rate of 47 years.Women with diabetes, however, had a significantly lower survival rate—30.7years. "The reasons for this effect are not entirely clear from our studies," notedlead researcher Carlos E. Milla, MD, "but it is intuitive to presume that they areprobably related to hormonal interactions."