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Pain intensity and quality of life perception in children with hypermobility syndrome
Francis Fatoye1, Shea Palmer, Fiona Macmillan
1Department of Health Professions, School of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Elizabeth Gaskell Campus, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0JA, UK. f.fatoye@mmu.ac.uk
Insights
Children with hypermobility syndrome (HMS) experience significantly higher pain and lower quality of life (QoL) compared to healthy peers. Pain intensity strongly correlates with reduced QoL in these pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Child Health
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Hypermobility syndrome (HMS) is a significant cause of childhood morbidity.
- Impaired quality of life (QoL) is documented in adults with HMS, but not yet in children.
- This study addresses the gap in understanding QoL and pain in pediatric HMS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare pain intensity and QoL in children with HMS versus healthy controls.
- To investigate the relationship between pain intensity and QoL in children with HMS.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 29 children with HMS and 37 healthy children (aged 8-15 years).
- Pain intensity assessed using the Coloured Analogue Scale.
- QoL measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests and Spearman Rho correlation.
Main Results:
- Children with HMS demonstrated significantly lower overall QoL scores across all domains compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- Pain intensity was markedly higher in children with HMS (p < 0.001).
- A strong negative correlation existed between pain intensity and QoL (r range = -0.614 to -0.717; p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Pain and QoL are critical aspects of clinical evaluation for pediatric HMS.
- Children diagnosed with HMS may benefit from targeted treatment programs to reduce pain and enhance QoL.
- Findings underscore the impact of HMS on children's well-being.
Abstract:
Hypermobility syndrome (HMS) is a major source of morbidity in children. Impaired quality of life (QoL) has been observed recently in adults with HMS; however, this issue is yet to be investigated in children with this condition. This study compared pain intensity and QoL in children with HMS with healthy controls. It also examined the relationship between pain intensity and QoL in children with HMS. Following ethical approval, 29 children diagnosed with HMS and 37 healthy children aged 8-15 years participated. Informed written consent was obtained from participants and their parents/guardians. Average knee pain over the past week was examined using the Coloured Analogue Scale. QoL was measured via the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to compare pain and QoL scores between the two groups. Spearman Rho correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between pain and QoL. Overall QoL scores in each domain were significantly lower in children with HMS (all p < 0.001) compared with the controls. Pain intensity was significantly higher in children with HMS compared with their healthy counterparts (p < 0.001). A strong negative correlation was observed between pain intensity and overall QoL and all the domains (r range = -0.614 to -0.717; all p < 0.001). In conclusion, the findings of the present study imply that pain and QoL assessment might form important components of clinical examination for children diagnosed with HMS. These children may benefit from appropriate treatment programmes to alleviate pain intensity and improve QoL.
