Cystic Fibrosis Impacts People of Every Race and Ethnicity

While more common among people of European descent, cystic fibrosis is found in every community.

Due to the misperception that cystic fibrosis is rare among people of color, physicians may miss the signs and fail to order testing for children who have symptoms of CF. Due to lack of awareness of CF among the general population, those whose loved ones have symptoms of the disease may not know to insist on testing to rule out cystic fibrosis.

Healthcare inequities are a significant issue in medicine. Here are some ways in which they impact people of color (POC) in the CF community:

  • POC (especially Black and Latinx CF patients) experience worse overall health outcomes CF compared to their white counterparts

  • Because of a lack of representation in CF research, rare CF mutations prevalent in POC are

    • More likely to go undetected in screening

    • Not treatable by CFTR modulators

Early diagnosis is vital. CF is included on the newborn screening panel in every state, but these tests often fail to identify rare mutations more common in people who are not of European descent.

If you believe you or your child has symptoms of cystic fibrosis, do not hesitate to ask for testing.

There are therapies for cystic fibrosis. With a diagnosis, you or your loved one will have the opportunity to receive care so as to improve health and quality of life.

Source: Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute