RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety levels of children with cystic fibrosis and healthy children JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP PA3373 DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA3373 VO 58 IS suppl 65 A1 Muruvvet Cenk A1 Cansu Yilmaz Yegit A1 Almala Pinar Ergenekon A1 Ayse Toksoy Aksoy A1 Gulcin Bilicen A1 Yasemin Gokdemir A1 Ela Erdem Eralp A1 Ayse Rodopman Arman A1 Fazilet Karakoc A1 Bulent Karadag YR 2021 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA3373.abstract AB Introduction: First case of COVID-19 infection has been confirmed in Turkey as of March 11, 2020 and Turkish government has ordered a nation-wide school closure and lockdown for people younger than 20 years old by 1st of April. School closure and home confinement might have adverse effects on children’s physical and mental health. In this study, we aimed to compare the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on psychological reactions and coping of CF patients and healthy controls.Methods: This is a controlled cross-sectional study including 7-18 year-old children with CF. The survey included questions regarding family environment and peer relations, self care and psychological reactions to COVID-19 pandemic. The data was collected between 30th April, 2020 and 15 th of May, at which time COVID-19 started to peak in our country. The questionnaire was applied to children via telephone call under parental supervision.Results: We evaluated 132 CF patients and 135 their healthy peers. Mean age was 11.5±2.9 years in CF group and 11.8±3.2 years in control group (p=0.98). There were 55 girls (41.7%) in CF group and 81 girls (60%) in control group (p=0.027). The socioeconomic status of families was similar. CF patients was feeling less anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic compared to controls (p=0.01). CF patients were found to be less anxious for family members having the risk of COVID-19, less upset for school closure, less anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001, 0.02, 0.01 respectively).Conclusion: CF patients seem to show more resilience in coping with the pandemic. Appropriate psychological support should be provided to them and resilience strategies in coping with the pandemic should be nurtured.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3373.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).