What is the impact of pain on the quality of life for patients with Cystic Fibrosis? A systematic review

<p dir="ltr">Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that affects the lungs, liver and digestive system. It is traditionally thought of as a life-limiting disease however, ongoing advances in treatments and medications mean CF patients are living longer. CF is not traditionally considered a painful disease but there is very little known about the effect pain has on the quality of life of these patients. A systematic review (SR) of the available evidence into CF and pain was conducted. </p><p dir="ltr">Online searches were performed of 4 databases. This search yielded 211 studies. Following extensive quality appraisal, only 7 articles were deemed suitable to be included in the SR. Articles were restricted to English language only, but no restriction was applied on publication year. Following the narrative analysis of the data in the 7 articles, it is evident that pain is a common problem affecting both paediatric and adult CF patients. Pain has a negative effect on the quality of life of these patients and is linked to higher incidences of depression and anxiety. It also negatively affects patient’s treatment regimens and day to day life. There is limited research into this subject and therefore there is a need for further research.</p>