Motor proficiency in school-aged children with CHD

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.
• Motor proficiency is crucial for school-aged children's overall functioning and quality of life.
• Limited data exist on motor proficiency and its correlates in school-aged CHD populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess motor proficiency in school-aged children with CHD.
• To identify risk factors associated with impaired motor skills.
• To examine the relationship between motor skills and health-related quality of life.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) Short Form for therapist assessment.
• Employed parent-reported Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS) and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Functioning.
• Collected demographic, clinical, educational, and neuropsychological data from 272 patients (age ≥ 4 years).

Main Results:

• Median motor proficiency was at the 10th percentile, significantly below normative values.
• Worse motor scores linked to lower family income, genetic syndromes, infant developmental delay, abnormal neuroimaging, heart transplant history, executive dysfunction, and individualized education plans.
• Motor proficiency strongly correlated with parent-reported adaptive behavior and physical functioning, and negatively with quality of life.

Conclusions:

• School-aged children with CHD demonstrate significant motor proficiency deficits.
• Motor skills are influenced by clinical, genetic, socioeconomic, and neuropsychological factors.
• Early and continuous motor screening is essential for this population, alongside addressing factors impacting quality of life.