title: Health-related quality of life and behavior of triplets at adolescent age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and behavior of triplets compared with matched singletons at adolescent age and to identify medical and sociodemographic predictors of outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four triplets (19 sets, mean [SD] gestational age 32.0 [2.4] weeks, birth weight 1580 [450] g) and 51 gestational age-, birth weight-, and sex-matched singleton controls self-rated their HRQoL at age 14.5 (0.3) years. Proxy reports about HRQoL and behavior were obtained by parents and teachers. HRQoL was measured with the Kidscreen-52 questionnaire child and parent form, and behavior with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self- and parent-reported HRQoL values was similar in both groups except for the dimensions "mood and emotions" and "autonomy," which were better (P = .001, P = .03) in triplets. Parents reported significantly less behavioral problems in triplets compared with controls. Compared with community norms, both HRQoL and behavior measures in triplets were in the normal range. Parent-reported HRQoL was predicted by dichorionicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRQoL and behavioral outcome in adolescent triplets was good in our study and was, in some aspects, better than in matched singleton controls. Dichorionicity is an important outcome determinant.
authors.affiliation: Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Natalucci
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iten
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Hans U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Bucher
authors.forename: Romaine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arlettaz
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Latal
authors.forename: Markus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Landolt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014310:Triplets / Q000523:psychology