Transitioning from paediatric to adult services with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis: What is the impact on engagement and health outcomes?

Aim To determine whether the transfer of young people with cystic fibrosis (CF) or bronchiectasis from paediatric to adult services is associated with changes in service engagement and/or health outcomes. Methods Young people aged ≥15 years of age with CF or bronchiectasis who transferred from the Auckland‐based paediatric service (Starship Children's Hospital) to one of three Auckland‐based District Health Boards between 2005 and 2012 were identified and included if they had 3 years care both pre‐transfer and post‐transfer care. Transfer preparation, service engagement (clinics scheduled, clinics attended) and health outcomes (lung function, hospitalisations) were collected per annum. Results Fifty‐seven young people transferred in this period with 46 meeting inclusion criteria (CF n = 20, bronchiectasis n = 26). The CF group had better transfer documentation, were transferred at an older age (11 months older P