Hormonal Contraception Effects on Pulmonary Function in Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis.

Abstract

Estrogens are suspected to have a negative effect on pulmonary function in women with cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of our study was to investigate, in a CF adolescent population, the effect of hormonal contraception (HC) on lung function by assessing the forced expiratory volume in 1second (FEV1), the number of exacerbations of pulmonary condition, and antibiotic use. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We conducted a cohort retrospective chart review of girls from age 13 to 18years old who were followed in the CF clinic of a university hospital center. Wilcoxon rank sum test with continuity correction, 2-sample t test, conditional test of Poisson rates, and χ2 test were conducted to identify differences in results between adolescents with or without use of HC for the following outcomes: FEV1, use of antibiotics by nebulizer, and hospital admission for exacerbations of pulmonary condition. Among 127 adolescents, 64/127 (50.4%)took HC; 12/127 (9%) continuously had been taking HC over 3years. For girls taking HC for more than 3years, FEV1 at 18years old was significantly higher than for girls who had never taken HC (85.17% vs 71.05%; P=.043). However, there was no difference in the number of hospital admissions for exacerbation of pulmonary condition between these 2 groups (P=.057). There was no difference between HC vs non-HC users in the percent of patients taking antibiotics by nebulizer over the 6years of follow-up. Our study suggests that in adolescents with CF, HC has no deleterious effects on the FEV1. Further prospective studies could be done to confirm these results.