CF primarily affects the respiratory and digestive systems in children and young adults.
The sweat glands and the reproductive system are also usually involved. On the average, individuals with CF have a lifespan of approximately 30 years. CF-like disease has been known for over two centuries. The name, cystic fibrosis of the pancreas, was first applied to the disease in 1938. The disease occurs mostly in whites whose ancestors came from northern Europe, although it affects all races and ethnic groups.