title: Quality of life in children with vesicoureteral reflux as perceived by children and parents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Significant research has been dedicated to the management of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). However, few studies have been published to evaluate the impact of this disease on quality of life. The aim of this study was a prospective examination of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with VUR who have either been treated medically (antibiotics or surveillance) or by ureteral reimplant (UR) using a validated patient satisfaction survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, longitudinal study was conducted using a validated HRQoL questionnaire, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core). 353 children or parents of children with VUR, age 2-18 years, completed the survey. Statistical analysis was performed with significance set at p-value ≤ 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children and parents of children with VUR did not score lower on total or subscale domains of HRQoL when compared to a historical healthy control. On univariate analysis, patients who underwent UR scored lower on total as well as physical, social, and school subscale HRQoL domains, compared to patients managed medically. When controlling for gender, ethnicity, age, reflux grade, and antibiotic use, there was no difference in total HRQoL between patients who underwent UR compared to those managed medically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In terms of HRQoL, VUR is a benign clinical entity and neither antibiotic use nor UR is associated with lower HRQoL. Disease-specific quality of life surveys are needed to accurately evaluate patient and parent satisfaction in the management of VUR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Hunnewell-353, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Aaron C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Drew A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Freilich
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Minnillo
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shoag
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Retik
authors.forename: Hiep T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010290:Parents; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000628:therapy