Cystic fibrosis is a life-long, complex, chronic illness with many changing and interacting elements. Today, people with cystic fibrosis have a life-expectancy of almost 50 years, yet the majority of people born with this disease will not live past their twenties.

Less than 20 years ago, the average life expectancy was only 18 years – what has changed? Why has this change taken place? And what is the impact on people living with cystic fibrosis today?

Research into not only the chronic illness itself, but also many of the co-morbidities has seen monumental developments in the drugs used to treat the condition, and improvements in daily management of the condition to improve life quality. While this is great news for our community, it is still not the cure that we all long for.

With life extension has come an understanding of the complexities of cystic fibrosis and many of these multiplies when we step back to contemplate the connections between cystic fibrosis and the rest of the systems in the body.

Cystic Fibrosis Australia has been working on a health portal which explores the implications and associations of these co-morbidities of cystic fibrosis on the human body.

There are commonly acknowledged cystic fibrosis co-morbidities, like cystic fibrosis related diabetes and there are less explored but equally crucial co-morbidities (liked the increased rate of colorectal adenomas in cystic fibrosis populations) that are coming to light due to increased life expectancies in our group.

Issues like obesity impinge on the cystic fibrosis world in the wake of weight gain due to CFTR modulators. Issues like global pandemics and air pollution impinge on the cystic fibrosis world due to compromised lung function in our community.

While some people may struggle to gain access to NDIS support based on the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, it is when the co-morbidities and complexities of the diseased are accessed and a true picture of life living with cystic fibrosis is drawn, that access is granted.

As people live longer lives with cystic fibrosis, the future of the impact of co-morbidities and complexities remains at the forefront of research, and it is this reason alone which presents the strongest case for access to the NDIS.

To learn more about the co-morbidities and complexities when it comes to living with cystic fibrosis, visit https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.au/what-we-do/cf-donut