Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

Abstract

The primary aim of the study was to investigate the generic health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of pediatric patients meeting Rome II criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in comparison to healthy children. The secondary aim was to compare pediatric patients with IBS to pediatric patients with Rome II criteria diagnosed functional abdominal pain (FAP) and patients with diagnosed organic gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The study also investigated the associations between GI symptoms with generic HRQOL and evaluated group differences in school days missed and days sick in bed and needing care. HRQOL was measured with the PedsQLtrade mark 4.0 Generic Core Scales (Physical, Emotional, Social, and School Functioning). The PedsQLtrade mark was administered in outpatient pediatric gastroenterology clinics in California, Texas, and New Jersey. A total of 287 families (280 child self-report, 286 parent proxy-report) with children diagnosed with IBS (n = 123), FAP (n = 82), or organic GI disorders (n = 82) participated. Pediatric patients with IBS demonstrated significantly lower Physical, Emotional, Social, and School Functioning in comparison to healthy children, and comparable HRQOL to patients with FAP and organic GI diagnoses. GI symptoms were significantly associated with generic HRQOL. Patients with IBS demonstrated a significantly greater number of days missed from school, days sick in bed/too ill to play, and days needing someone to care for them than healthy children, but significantly fewer days than patients with FAP and organic GI disorders. Pediatric patients with IBS demonstrated impaired HRQOL in dimensions measuring Physical, Emotional, Social, and School Functioning. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to address these dimensions of impaired HRQOL.

Measuring quality of life in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease: psychometric and clinical characteristics

“…Results for the sample on the PedsQL are similar to those recently reported for a smaller (n = 42) population of children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (33) and higher than reported for adolescents with a variety of gastrointestinal disorders (23). These results help to confirm the validity of the IBD-specific measure.…”

Widespread Hyperalgesia in Adolescents With Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Results From a Large Population-Based Study

“…19,26,28 IBS is more prevalent among girls than among boys and is associated with high risk of mental health problems and of co-morbid pain at other body sites. 25,26,51 There is broad agreement that IBS is best conceptualized in terms of the biopsychosocial model, with multiple factors contributing to its pathophysiology. 6,9,16,21,29,34,49 These factors are incompletely understood, but are likely to include both peripheral gut factors, 5,27 as well as central factors, including central pain modulation, 40 and disorders of mood and affect.…”

Obesity and Functional Gastrointestinal Diseases in Children

“…Several studies have confirmed children with pain predominant FGIDs are having poor health related quality of life. 17,18 We have recently shown that children with FC have poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and suffer from number of somatic symptoms which contribute to spiral down their HRQoL further. 19 Sagawa et al 20 noted children with IBS have poor school performances indicating long term repercussions of FGDs in children.…”