Effects of rehabilitation winter camps at the Dead Sea on European cystic fibrosis patients.

BACKGROUND Rehabilitation camps can improve exercise tolerance and nutrition in cystic fibrosis patients. OBJECTIVES To assess weight gain, pulmonary function tests and daily symptoms in European CF patients attending a rehabilitation camp at the Dead Sea, Israel. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study assessing 94 CF patients who participated in winter camps held at the Dead Sea, Israel from 1997 to 2000. The camp program included daily physiotherapy, physical activities, and a high caloric diet. We assessed weight gain, pulmonary function tests, oxyhemoglobin saturation and daily symptoms before (pre), on departure (dep), and up to 3 months after the 3 week rehabilitation camp (post). All data were analyzed by ANOVA for repetitive measurements. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS Lung function tests and oxyhemoglobin saturation taken before, on departure and 3 months after camp were available for 35 patients. Forced expiratory volume in the first second (% predicted, average +/- SD) improved by 8.2 +/- 2.3% (pre, dep, post, P < 0.05). Oxyhemoglobin saturation mildly improved (1 +/- 0.3%, pre, dep, post, P < 0.05). Forced vital capacity (% predicted) increased by 3.9 +/- 1.2%, but was not significant (P = 0.19). Total body weight of 89 patients improved by 1.9 +/- 0.9% during the camp time (P < 0.05, t-test), and in a group of 24 patients weight continuously increased up to 5.0 +/- 1.7% at 3 months after the camp (P = 0.004, ANOVA). CONCLUSIONS In this attrition-limited retrospective study, European CF patients improved their pulmonary function and gained weight during and up to 3 months after a 3 week rehabilitation winter camp at the Dead Sea, Israel.