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Quality of life after necrotizing enterocolitis: an integrative review
Breno Oliveira Marques1, Ana Beatriz Ferreira Gusmão1, Luana Leal Gonzaga1
1Universidade Federal da Bahia, Vitória da Conquista, BA, Brasil.
Insights
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) significantly impacts newborns, leading to long-term health issues like cognitive and motor impairments. This serious condition negatively affects the quality of life for affected infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Health
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal condition in newborns.
- Long-term health outcomes and quality of life (QoL) implications for NEC survivors require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current evidence on the long-term health outcomes of neonates diagnosed with NEC.
- To evaluate the impact of NEC on the quality of life of affected children.
Main Methods:
- An integrative literature review was performed.
- Databases searched included BVS, LILACS, MEDLINE, and PubMed (2012-2022).
- Keywords: "necrotizing enterocolitis," "quality of life," "prognosis."
Main Results:
- Ten studies were included in the review.
- NEC survivors often experience cognitive neurological impairment, particularly after surgery.
- Motor development is frequently below average, with delays in fine and gross motor skills.
- NEC negatively impacts overall well-being and quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in newborns.
- The condition poses significant risks for reduced long-term quality of life in affected individuals.
Objective:
To describe the long-term health outcomes of neonates affected by necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and its implications for quality of life.
Data Source:
This is an integrative review, conducted by searching the literature in the following databases: Virtual Health Library (BVS), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), and PubMed, using Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS): "necrotizing enterocolitis," "quality of life," and "prognosis" combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR: "quality of life" OR "prognosis." Inclusion criteria were: publication period between 2012 and 2022.
Data Synthesis:
A total of 1,010 studies were located, of which ten were selected to comprise the bibliographic sample of this review. Children with NEC are prone to exhibit cognitive neurological impairment, especially those who undergo surgical procedures due to more severe conditions. Motor development was considered below average when compared to healthy children, with more noticeable delays in fine and gross motor function development. The search for the relationship between NEC and quality of life revealed that this condition has a negative impact on the well-being of affected individuals.
Conclusions:
NEC has proven to be a serious condition contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality in newborns, potentially leading to a reduction in the quality of life of affected patients.
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