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Long-term motor activity, cardiopulmonary performance and quality of life in abdominal wall defect patients
Christina Flucher1, Jana Windhaber1, Paolo Gasparella1
1Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Insights
Patients with abdominal wall defects (AWD) show reduced motor skills and quality of life in long-term follow-up. Cardiopulmonary function remains unaffected, but the clinical significance requires further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Developmental Biology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Congenital abdominal wall defects (AWD) present unique challenges for affected individuals.
- Long-term outcomes regarding physical function and quality of life in AWD patients are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate long-term cardiorespiratory performance, motor skills, core stability, and quality of life in patients with AWD.
- To compare these parameters with a healthy control group.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 18 patients with AWD (2002-2013) underwent clinical examination, spirometry, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, motor activity assessment, ultrasound, and electromyography.
- The Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) was administered.
- Results were compared to an age, sex, BMI, and physical activity-matched healthy control group.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in anthropometric data or cardiorespiratory function (spirometry, spiroergometry) were observed between AWD patients and controls.
- AWD patients demonstrated significantly decreased motor abilities, indicated by higher Dordel-Koch-Test values.
- AWD patients reported a significantly lower quality of life, as measured by the GIQLI score.
Conclusions:
- Long-term follow-up reveals that patients with AWD experience impaired motor function and reduced gastrointestinal quality of life.
- Cardiopulmonary function appears to be preserved in AWD patients.
- The long-term clinical implications of these functional deficits warrant further research.
Aim:
To assess whether patients born with an abdominal wall defect (AWD) have impaired cardiorespiratory performance capacity, motor skills, core stability or quality of life in a long-term follow up.
Methods:
Patients diagnosed with AWD between 2002 and 2013 were invited to participate in the study, which included clinical examination, spirometry, cardiopulmonary exercise performance testing, assessment of motor activity, ultrasound, electromyography of the abdominal wall and assessment of the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). The results were compared to a healthy control group matched for age, sex, BMI, and physical activity levels.
Results:
In total, 18 AWD patients (mean age 12.6 ± 3.5 years) were included and there were no significant differences in anthopometric data compared to the control group (n = 18). AWD patients had a significantly lower GIQLI score (AWD mean 137.2 ± 6.8 vs. control mean 141.4 ± 4.9; p = 0.038) and were affected by decreased motor abilities with significantly higher Dordel-Koch-Test values (AWD median 3.54/IQR 1 vs. control median 2.8/IQR 1; p = 0.005).
Conclusion:
Follow-up examinations of AWD patients revealed decreased motor abilities and GIQLI scores while cardiopulmonary function was not different compared to healthy controls. The clinical impact of these findings remains to be elucidated.
Impact:
Clinical examination, assessment of the gastrointestinal quality of life, sport medical testing, electromyography and abdominal wall ultrasound were performed in patients with congenital abdominal wall defect and compared to an age and sex matched healthy control group. Results of spirometry and spiroergometry, ultrasound or electromyography did not significantly differ between the groups. Significantly decreased locomotor function and gastrointestinal quality of life were found in patients with abdominal wall defect. However, the clinical impact of these findings remains to be elucidated.
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