Malena Cohen-Cymberknoh1, Tzlil Tanny2, Oded Breuer3, Hannah Blau4, Huda Mussaffi4, Diana Kadosh4, Silvia Gartner5, Alma Salinas5, Lea Bentur6, Vered Nir6, Michal Gur6, Joel Reiter3, David Shoseyov3, Eitan Kerem3, Itai Berger7. 1. CF Center, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: malena@hadassah.org.il. 2. Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. 3. CF Center, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. 4. Graub CF Center of Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petach-Tikva and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. 5. CF Center, Hospital Universitari Vall d' Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. 6. CF Center, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. 7. Pediatric Neurology Unit and Neurocognitive Center, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic life-threatening disease. In patients who suffer from chronic disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with functional impairment that can affect adherence to treatment and consequently influence prognosis. METHODS: CF patients filled in the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) adapted to the DSM5 and were assessed on a continuous performance task (MOXO-CPT), a standardized-computerized test designed to evaluate several domains of attention. RESULTS: Of the 175 patients (99 males), 18% presented ADHD symptoms, according to ADHD-RS; 16% in the younger group (<18years), and 18.9% in the adult group. The male to female ratio was 3:1 in children and 1:1 in adults. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of ADHD symptoms in patients with CF is substantially higher than in the general population and should be recognized as a co-morbidity of CF. As ADHD can impair adherence to therapy, further research is needed to investigate the effect of ADHD therapy on adherence.
BACKGROUND:Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic life-threatening disease. In patients who suffer from chronic disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with functional impairment that can affect adherence to treatment and consequently influence prognosis. METHODS: CF patients filled in the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) adapted to the DSM5 and were assessed on a continuous performance task (MOXO-CPT), a standardized-computerized test designed to evaluate several domains of attention. RESULTS: Of the 175 patients (99 males), 18% presented ADHD symptoms, according to ADHD-RS; 16% in the younger group (<18years), and 18.9% in the adult group. The male to female ratio was 3:1 in children and 1:1 in adults. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of ADHD symptoms in patients with CF is substantially higher than in the general population and should be recognized as a co-morbidity of CF. As ADHD can impair adherence to therapy, further research is needed to investigate the effect of ADHD therapy on adherence.