Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Cystic Fibrosis Management

Over 30,000 people in the U.S. live with cystic fibrosis (CF) and for the first time in history, adults outnumber children. Medical advances have played an integral role in increasing the lifespan and lessening the severity of symptoms. Due to malabsorption and labored breathing, traditional management of CF required a calorically-dense diet to prevent or treat malnutrition. However, medical interventions, including highly effective CF transmembrane conductance regulator modulator therapy (HEMT), have been so effective that excessive weight gain is emerging as a medical concern for youth and adults with CF. Conversely, malnutrition remains problematic for subsets of the CF population due to HEMT-unresponsive mutations or inadequate access to care. The evolution of CF management poses new challenges for clinicians, including discerning the role of BMI, mitigating risk for metabolic health conditions, developing nutrition interventions for changing metabolic needs, and managing mental health conditions, including body image disorder. Join us for a discussion about the evolving landscape of CF management with an interdisciplinary panel of experts.

Planned with the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group

CPE Level: Level 3 (advanced knowledge/expertise)
CPEU: 1.5

Performance Indicators

• 8.2.1 Engages in educational activities to maintain knowledge and to obtain new knowledge of diseases and clinical conditions.
• 8.2.1 Engages in educational activities to maintain knowledge and to obtain new knowledge of diseases and clinical conditions.
• 10.4.4 Considers client/patient factors, nutritional impacts, indications, side effects, contraindications, benefits, risks, alternatives and foundational sciences when prescribing, recommending or administering nutrition-related drug therapy.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the paradigm shift related to weight and body mass index in the management of CF
• Describe two mental health conditions that may be experienced by a patient with CF
• Identify three nutrition therapy considerations for a patient on highly effective CF transmembrane conductance regulator modulator therapy (HEMT)

Moderator

• Tara Griffin, MS, RD, LD

Speakers

• Nicole Benesh, RD, LD
• Stephanie Filigno, PhD
• Andrea Kelly, MD, MSCE