In the 1980s, life expectancy for persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) was just 12 years in the US, and around 20 in Canada.

However, the median age of survival for Canadian CF patients continues on an upward trend, and is currently estimated to be 50.9 years of age — or two and a half times what it was 30 years ago.

“The median age of survival in Canada for CF patients has now passed 50 years of age and shows tremendous progress in the fight against cystic fibrosis,” says Dr. Anne Stephenson, Director of the CF Registry. “We hope the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Registry will continue to enhance knowledge and highlight key trends that will lead to improved CF research and treatments.”