Mental health, sleep, and quality of life following CFTR modulator therapy: a longitudinal study of children with cystic fibrosis and caregivers.

Authors

Hande Yetişgin, Işıl Bilgiç, Meltem Kürtül Çakar, Gamze Akca Dinç, Ayyüce Ünlü, Çelebi Yıldırım, Ayça Laçin Tekin, Satı Özkan Tabakçı, Şule Selin Akyan, Gökçen Dilşa Tuğcu, Dilber Ademhan Tural, Sanem Eryılmaz Polat, Gülser Şenses Dinç, Esra Çöp, Güzin Cinel

Published in

European journal of pediatrics. Volume 185. Issue 9. Aug 11, 2026. Epub Aug 11, 2026.

Abstract

Modulator therapies have been shown to improve clinical outcomes, particularly respiratory outcomes, in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, their potential effects on sleep and mental health remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of longitudinal modulator therapy on mental health, sleep, and quality of life (QOL) in children with CF and their caregivers. This prospective observational study is a longitudinal follow-up of our previously published cross-sectional study. Twenty-four children with CF receiving modulator therapy and their parents were enrolled. Participants were assessed at baseline and reassessed following an 18-month follow-up period. Patients completed the Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (CFQ-R), Child Depression Inventory (CDI), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Parents completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale - Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF), and CFQ-R parent-proxy questionnaires. At the end of the 18-month period, significant decreases were observed in patients' SCARED, CDI, and ESS scores (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, and p = 0.025, respectively) relative to baseline. Significant improvements were observed in BDI, BAI, and ZBI scores among parents, while significant increases were seen in WHOQOL-BREF scores (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Improvements were observed in the physical, social, and respiratory domains of the CFQ-R (p = 0.018, p = 0.025, and p = 0.043, respectively).
Over an 18-month period, modulator therapy was associated with a reduced risk of anxiety, depression, and daytime sleepiness and improved QoL in children with CF. Additionally, improvements in parental QoL and reduced caregiving burden were observed. These results suggest that the benefits of modulator therapies may extend beyond clinical outcomes to the psychosocial well-being of families.
• Children with cystic fibrosis and their caregivers have significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression compared with the general population. • CFTR modulator therapies improve pulmonary outcomes, but their long-term effects on mental health remain inconclusive.
• Long-term modulator therapy may be associated with reductions in anxiety, depression, and daytime sleepiness in children with CF. • Caregivers of children receiving modulator therapy may also benefit psychosocially, with improvements observed in mental health, quality of life, and caregiver burden.

PMID:
42576010
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 11 Aug 2026.

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