© 1998 by Oxford University Press
research-article |
Survival Analysis for Cystic Fibrosis in Minas Gerais State, Brazil
*Department of Pediatrics and University General Hospital, Pediatric Pulmonology Section, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
**Medical Student, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Francisco José Caldeira Reis, Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG, Rua Ceará, 161/Salas 103106, 30150310 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. Tel. 55 31 241 3855; Fax 55 31 241 3576. E-mail pcamargs{at}medicina.ufmg.br
A survival analysis was carried out on cystic fibrosis (CF) patients diagnosed and followed at the General Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study cohort consisted of 111 children, admitted to the Pediatric Pulmonology Section from 1 June 1970 to 31 December 1994. The survival curve and table, constructed by the KaplanMeier (product limit) method, show a mean survival age of 12.6 years. This life expectancy resembles the median survival age observed in developed countries by 1970. This study shows that problems relating to health system organization and unfavourable social and economic conditions in developing countries may directly affect the ultimate survival of CF patients