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Comparative Study
. 2008 Jan;89(1):121-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.09.016.

Self-reported health status and quality of life in youth with cerebral palsy and typically developing youth

Kristie F Bjornson  1 , Basia Belza, Deborah Kartin, Rebecca G Logsdon, John McLaughlin
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Self-reported health status and quality of life in youth with cerebral palsy and typically developing youth

Kristie F Bjornson et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To describe self-reported health status and quality of life (QOL) of ambulatory youths with cerebral palsy (CP) compared with sex- and age-matched typically developing youth (TDY).

Design: Prospective cross-sectional cohort comparison.

Setting: Community-based.

Participants: A convenience sample of 81 youth with CP (age range, 10-13 y) with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I through III and 30 TDY participated. They were recruited from 2 regional children's hospitals and 1 regional military medical center.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: Participants completed the Child Health Questionnaire-Child Form (CHQ-CF87) for health status and the Youth Quality of Life for QOL.

Results: Youth with CP reported significantly lower health status than age- and sex-matched TDY in the following CHQ-CF87 subscales: role/social behavioral physical, bodily pain, physical function, and general health (CP mean rank, 46.8-55.2; TDY mean rank, 62.2-80.9). There were significant differences across GMFCS levels. There were no significant differences in self-reported QOL.

Conclusions: Self-reported health status, but not QOL, appears sensitive to the functional health issues experienced by ambulatory youth with CP. Pain management and psychosocial support may be indicated for them.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Recruitment results for participants with CP showing numbers and reasons for exclusions. Adapted from Bjornson et al. Reprinted with permission.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Median and interquartile range (IQR) for CHQ role/social behavioral scale scores by functional levels (GMFCS). NOTE. TDY to level II, P<.002; TYD to levels I and III, P=.07; levels I to II, P=.29; levels I to III, P=.87; levels II to III, P=.37. Adapted from Bjornson. Reprinted with permission.
Fig 3
Fig 3
Median and IQR for CHQ role/social physical scale scores by functional levels (GMFCS). NOTE. TDY to levels I and III, P<.01; TDY to level II, P=.08; levels I to II, P=.31; levels I to III, P=.70; levels I to III, P=.23; levels II to III, P = .31. Adapted from Bjornson. Reprinted with permission.
Fig 4
Fig 4
Median and IQR for CHQ bodily pain scale scores by functional levels (GMFCS). NOTE. TDY to level II, P<.04; TDY to I, P=.81; TDY to III, P=.29; levels I to II, P<.04; levels I to III, P=.37; levels II to III, P<.01. Adapted from Bjornson. Reprinted with permission.
Fig 5
Fig 5
Median and IQR for CHQ physical function scale scores by functional levels (GMFCS). NOTE. TDY to levels I, II, III, P<.002; levels I to II, P=.15; levels I to III, P<.01; levels II to III, P<.02. Adapted from Bjornson. Reprinted with permission.
Fig 6
Fig 6
Median and IQR for CHQ general health perception scale scores by functional levels (GMFCS). NOTE. TDY to levels I and II, P<.01; TDY to level III, P=.12; levels I to II, P=.59; levels I to III, P=.38; levels II to III, P=.22. Adapted from Bjornson. Reprinted with permission.
Fig 7
Fig 7
Median and IQR for YQOL total QOL scale scores activity by functional levels (GMFCS). Adapted from Bjornson. Reprinted with permission.
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References

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