Feelings and Fears in Adults With and Without Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis results in progressive chronic lung disease and multiple comorbidities. In 2009–2010 the H1N1 influenza pandemic resulted in significant morbidity in most people with Cystic Fibrosis who contracted the infection. Many countries categorised people with Cystic Fibrosis as highly vulnerable to COVID-19 and advised shielding to try to minimise the risk of people with CF contracting the virus. The impact of acute infection with COVID-19 in people with Cystic Fibrosis was not known.¹

In this webinar Prof Castellani investigates the effects of the pandemic on both Cystic Fibrosis patients and the general population. Detail is given on studies that look into the mental health of patients during the COVID-19 lockdowns, their emotional well-being and also the anxieties experienced amongst children with Cystic Fibrosis and their carers.

The development of an expanded questionnaire is also discussed which looked at demographic data, health conditions during lockdown, emotional symptoms and also some Cystic Fibrosis specific questions. The data pooled from this questionnaire is discussed in relation to a wider survey of similar questions posed to the general Italian population.

References

1. Cosgriff R. A multinational report to characterise SARS-CoV-2 infection in people with cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 2020; 19(3): 355–358.

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• Professor Carlo Castellani

  Director of the Genoa Cystic Fibrosis Centre

  Read biography
  Professor Carlo Castellani

  Director of the Genoa Cystic Fibrosis Centre Gaslini Institute

  Role and Location 

  Dr Carlo Castellani has worked in the Cystic Fibrosis Centre of Verona, Italy from 1993 to 2018, where he has been in charge of the Clinical Genetics and Neonatal Screening Services and of the Adult Unit. Since 2019 he is Director of the Genoa Cystic Fibrosis Centre, located in the Gaslini Institute.

  Education 

  Dr Carlo Castellani trained in the Pediatric Department of the University of Verona. He is a registered Pediatrician and registered Medical Geneticist.

  Research Interests

  His main clinical and research interests lie in CF epidemiology, genotype/phenotype correlation, CF diagnosis, CFTR-related disorders, neonatal and carrier screening and CF adult care.

  Memberships

  He has served on a number of committees including the board of the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Working Group and the Commission on Patterns of Genetic Analysis for Cystic Fibrosis. He is the deputy editor for the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. He has been President of the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Society, Secretary and VicePresident of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society, Founding Member of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Working Group on Neonatal Screening. He is presently Director of the ECFS Standards of Care Project and Deputy Editor of the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. His international functions include membership of the CF Diagnostic Network and participation in scientific committees of the European Cystic Fibrosis conference and North American Cystic Fibrosis conference. He has been advisor in the Subcommittee on Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Dr Castellani has started and chaired the ECFS Working Group on Neonatal Screening and has been board member, secretary and vicepresident of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society. He has led several ECFS consensus initiatives which produced guidelines on CFTR mutation analysis in clinical practice, CF neonatal screening, CF carrier screening and CF Standards of Care. Dr Castellani is a member of the CFTR2 core team.