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Crohn disease: effect on children's lifestyles
Wendy Lowe1, Diane Kenwright, John Wyeth
1University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
Insights
Pediatric Crohn disease (CD) impacts quality of life. Longer disease duration correlated with better quality of life, while higher disease activity correlated with poorer quality of life in Wellington children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Quality of Life Research
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Crohn disease (CD) significantly impacts pediatric patients' physical, social, and psychological well-being.
- Assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is crucial for resource allocation and intervention effectiveness in pediatric CD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediatric patients diagnosed with Crohn disease (CD) within the Wellington region.
- To establish baseline data for future research on HRQoL in young CD patients in New Zealand.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 16 pediatric patients (ages 9-18) with Crohn disease (CD) in the Wellington region participated.
- The IMPACT-III inflammatory bowel disease-specific questionnaire was utilized for assessment, with some participants undergoing cognitive debriefing for cross-cultural adaptation.
Main Results:
- The mean total HRQoL score was 119.2 (SD 30.7) out of a maximum of 175.
- A significant positive correlation was found between disease duration and HRQoL (ρ=0.534, p<0.05).
- A significant negative correlation was observed between disease activity and HRQoL (ρ=-0.596, p<0.05), with patients reporting challenges with treatments and social isolation.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric patients with Crohn disease (CD) in Wellington may benefit from tailored social and psychological support.
- This study provides essential baseline HRQoL data for pediatric CD patients in New Zealand, informing future research and clinical practice.
Background And Aim:
Crohn disease (CD) presents a range of physical, social, and psychological challenges, and can adversely affect the quality of life of those affected by it. The present study aimed to investigate the health-related quality of life of paediatric patients with CD in the Wellington region. Measuring health-related quality of life assists with resource allocation decisions and assesses various forms of interventions.
Methods:
Patients ages 9 to 18 years with CD in the Wellington region were assessed using the IMPACT-III inflammatory bowel disease-specific questionnaire (n = 16). Eight participants filled it out and returned it by post; the remaining 8 filled it out in a meeting with the researcher and then underwent cognitive debriefing as part of a cross-cultural adaptation of the questionnaire.
Results:
Of a maximum possible value of 175, the total health-related quality of life score had a mean value of 119.2 (standard deviation 30.7). Using Spearman rank correlation analysis, significant findings included a positive correlation between disease duration and quality of life (ρ = 0.534, sig. <0.05) and a negative correlation between disease activity and quality of life (ρ = -0.596, sig. <0.05). Qualitative information included difficulties in coping with long-term and unpleasant treatments and feelings of isolation.
Conclusions:
Children with Crohn disease in the Wellington region may benefit from age-specific social and psychological support. Because there is limited information on quality of life in young patients with CD in New Zealand, the results of the present study may be used as baseline data for future studies.
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