297 Does socioeconomic status correlate with clinical outcomes in children with CF in Southwestern Ontario?

Abstract

Objectives Lower socioeconomic status (SES) in CF is associated with poor outcomes and an increased risk of death. Chronic infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) is also thought to ensure overall worse clinical outcomes. Our objective was to determine if lower SES in paediatric patients with CF in London Ontario is correlated with poorer outcomes. Methods A survey was used to collect information relating to caregiver education, work status, and family income. These were correlated to forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and body mass index (BMI) percentile, and MRSA and PsA status during the year of study completion. Results A total of 69 surveys were distributed, and 49 were returned, for a total of 57 children. The mean BMI percentile for our centre was 49.95%, and the mean FEV1 was 83.38% of predicted. FEV1 and BMI percentile were not correlated with family income, level of caregiver education, or work status of the caregivers. There was a higher prevalence of PsA infection in children from families with a higher income. MRSA was more likely to be present if both caregivers had no post-secondary education. Conclusion In our centre, BMI or FEV1 was not correlated with our indicators of SES. Lower income was associated with MRSA colonisation, which may lead to overall worse long-term outcomes in these children. Interestingly, families with a higher income had an elevated incidence of PsA, which may be secondary to more frequent use of anti-staphylococcus antibiotics used in this population. Further studies will need to be done to investigate the role of SES in clinical outcomes of children with CF.