Results
This study included 132 CF patients and 135 healthy peers. The mean age
was 11.53±2.86 and 11.76±3.15 years respectively, in CF group and
control group (p=0.98). There were 55 girls (41.7%) in CF group and 81
girls (60%) in control group (p=0.027).
Of the 132 CF patients, 95 (72%) had pancreatic insuffiency, 41
(31.1%) were colonised with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, 59 (44.7%) had
normal FEV1 value, 40 (30.3%) had mild, 23 (17.4%) had
moderate and 5 (3.8%) of them had severe lung disease. There was no
statistically significant difference in terms of severity of the disease
and anxiety levels of CF patients (p >0.05). Comparison of
psychosocial and psychological findings between CF patients and control
group was presented in Table-1. CF patients were found to be less
anxious for family members having the risk of COVID-19, less upset for
the school closure, less anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic
(p<0.001, 0.02, 0.01 respectively). Control group was more
overthinking about the pandemic, and feeling sad, lonely or reluctant to
have playful time (p=0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Control group also
tried to have new hobbies more compared to CF group (p= 0.01).
In CF group 71 (53.8%) of patients were children and 61 (46.2%) were
adolescents. Children were feeling more upset for the school closure
(p=0.01) and more anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic (p=0.008), had
more appetite changes (p=0.03), expressed more reluctance of doing
homework for online education (p=0.03), engaging activities to decrease
their anxiety (p=0.01), tried to find new hobbies during lockdown
(p=0.005) and needed psychological help (p=0.059) more than adolescents.
Adolescents communicated with their friends via social media more than
children (p=0.005). Comparison of psychological and psychosocial
findings in CF group as children and adolescent was presented in
Table-2.
In control group, 79 (58.5%) of them were children and 56 (41.5%) of
them were adolescents. Although adolescents communicated with their
friends from social media more than children (p=0.003), children felt
happier for communicating online with their friends (p=0.02). Also
children engaged new activities and needed for psychological help more
than adolescents (p value 0.008 and 0.11 respectively). Comparison of
psychosocial and psychological findings in control group as children and
adolescent was presented in Table-3
In our country examinations for high school and university admission are
big stressors for adolescents. Twenty-four (39.4%) of CF and 17
(30.4%) of control group had admission examinations for high school or
university. We also asked these adolescents if the pandemic, school
closure and online education increased their anxiety. Although it was
not statistically significant (p=0.21), exam anxiety was higher in
control group compared to CF patients (46.4% vs 24.6%).