The application of current lifetable methods to compare cystic fibrosis median survival internationally is limited

Abstract Background Comparing international estimates of survival can be a useful way of highlighting differences in life expectancy between cystic fibrosis (CF) populations. In this study, we compared survival in two CF populations. Methods The current lifetable method takes age-specific mortality...

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Published inJournal of cystic fibrosis Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 62 - 65
Main Authors Jackson, Abaigeal D, Daly, Leslie, Kelleher, Cecily, Marshall, Bruce C, Quinton, Hebe B, Foley, Linda, Fitzpatrick, Patricia
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2011
Subjects
Current lifetable
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis - epidemiology
Humans
Ireland
Life Expectancy
Life Tables
Mortality
Pulmonary/Respiratory
Registries
Registry
Survival Analysis
Survival Rate
United States
United States
Ireland
Survival analysis
Cystic fibrosis
Registry
Mortality
Current lifetable
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Summary:Abstract Background Comparing international estimates of survival can be a useful way of highlighting differences in life expectancy between cystic fibrosis (CF) populations. In this study, we compared survival in two CF populations. Methods The current lifetable method takes age-specific mortality rates observed in a given year and applies them to a hypothetical population assuming those rates will remain the same in the future. This was used to compare median predicted survival in the United States (US) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI) (1986–2008). Median age at death among decedents was also examined. Results In both countries, median age at death was lower than median predicted survival. Successive increases in annual median predicted survival were not observed; rather an overall improvement was discerned over time. In the RoI, where absolute numbers of deaths were small, year-on-year fluctuations in age-specific mortality rates resulted in wide-ranging annual median predicted survival estimates. Conclusion Median age at death is not a good measure of CF survival. Though median predicted survival improved in each country over the study period, between-country comparison at a given time point may be misleading for rare disorders like CF. Longitudinal outcomes must be examined.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:1569-1993
1873-5010
DOI:10.1016/j.jcf.2010.08.021