COVID-19 Infection and Cystic Fibrosis Webinar
On April 23, 2020 the All-Russian webinar, "COVID-19 Infection and Cystic Fibrosis" was held. The webinar was organized by the All-Russian Public Organization "Russian Society of Medical Genetics", FSBI Bochkov Research Centre for Medical Genetics, All-Russian Public Organization "All-Russian Association for Cystic Fibrosis Patients" and SBIH MR DCMCMO (Children's Clinical Multi-Disciplinary Center in Moscow region) with the support of Generium Company and the Islands Charity Foundation.
Audience and participants of the webinar were 425 people including 159 Russian doctors treating Cystic Fibrosis patients in 8 federal districts and 71 regions, 37 foreign specialists and patients, as well as representatives of public organizations and foundations, CF patients and their family members (229 people).
S.I. Kutsev, RAS Corresponding Member, Director of the FSBI Academician N.P. Bochkov Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Chief External Expert in Medical Genetics of the Russian Ministry of Health made an introductory speech. Prof. E.I. Kondratyeva, Head of the Cystic Fibrosis Research and Clinical Department of the FSBI Academician N.P. Bochkov Research Centre for Medical Genetics informed about preparation of regulatory documents on cystic fibrosis, as well as the Pan-European Program for Surveillance of Cystic Fibrosis -COVID-19, a project of the Organizing Committee of Cystic Fibrosis European Register in the Russian Federation. She noted that as at the date of the webinar they registered no cases of COVID-19 in cystic fibrosis patients in the Russian Federation. However, Prof. Kondratyeva warned the doctors, patients and their parents about the necessity to inform them of any confirmed cases (or in case of suspicion) of COVID-19 infection and of the necessity to fill in the questionnaire of the Organizing Committee of the CF Patients European Register and forward it to CF-RF-info@mail.ru.
Researchers of the FBIS Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, A.V. Gorelov, RAS Corresponding Member, Deputy Director for Research, and D.V. Usenko, Doctor of medical sci., leading researcher of the Clinical Department of Infectious Pathology informed about the latest data of epidemiological and molecular genetic monitoring of COVID-19 infection in Russia and worldwide. Prof. N.A. Ilyenkova, Doctor of medical science, Chief External Children's Pulmonologist of the Krasnoyarsk krai Ministry of Health, Head of the Children's Diseases Department of Prof. V.F.Voyno-Yasenetsky KrasGMU University delivered a report about the clinic, diagnosis and treatment of new coronavirus infection in children, including newborns.
E.L.Amelina, Candidate of medical science, Head of the Cystic Fibrosis Laboratory at the FSBI Research Institute of Pulmonology of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, and Prof. N.Yu Kashirskaya, Doctor of medical science, Chief researcher at the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory at the FSBI Academician N.P.Bochkov Research Centre for Medical Genetics made a joint presentation about situation with COVID-19 in cystic fibrosis patients in European countries and the United States. The speakers noted that there was evidence that COVID-19 in CF patients was less common and proceeded more easily than in the general population. This may be due to the timely isolation of patients accustomed to infection prevention measures, obtaining basic mucolytic therapy and antibiotic therapy options. What matters is the young age of the patients, lack of overweight, vascular diseases and bad habits. All observations need further clarification.
V.D. Sherman, Candidate of medical science, leading researcher of the Cystic Fibrosis Research and Clinical Department at FSBI RCMG, covered the issues of COVID-19 prevention and peculiarities of the disease course in cystic fibrosis patients.
O.O. Poletaeva, clinical psychologist from St. Petersburg, representative from Russia in the working group on mental health of the European Society for Cystic Fibrosis, reported on "How to live in self-isolation? The view of the psychologist". She advised on simple but effective measures to organize life in isolation.
I.Yu. Dmitrieva, Chairman of the Board of Regional Public Organization for Assistance to Cystic Fibrosis Patients "On One Breath" (Moscow), the patients’ public representative of LLC "All-Russian Association for Cystic Fibrosis Patients" summarized the information about Regulatory Documents for People with Chronic Diseases during the Coronavirus Infection Pandemic.
The speakers answered the questions received in electronic format.
At the end of the event, some further webinars for cystic fibrosis patients for the period of new coronavirus infection epidemic were scheduled. The next webinar will be held on 30 April 2020.