The benefits of newborn screening in cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a life threatening genetic disease. Those affected are typically at risk of poor nutrition as a result of pancreatic failure and die prematurely from relentless, worsening lung infections. Identifying those who are affected at an early pre-symptomatic stage, affords an opportunity to commence appropriate care in advance of the onset of irreversible complications. This article will review the extent to which newborn screening programmes, such as the one which has recently been rolled out across the whole of the UK, can achieve this.