title: Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with spinal dysraphism: results from a Taiwanese sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQL) in children and adolescents with spinal dysraphism and to determine the differences between the myelomeningocele (MMC) and lipomyelomeningocele (LMMC) groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients (mean age, 13.2 years) with MMC and 28 patients (mean age, 11.3 years) with LMMC participated in this study. HRQL was measured using the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form 50 (CHQ-PF50). The CHQ-PF50 scores for the study participants were compared with those of a reference sample of healthy Taiwanese children. Outcomes for children with MMC were compared with those for children with LMMC. We also explored the relationships of the lesion level and associated medical problems with HRQL in these subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with MMC had significantly lower scores on the physical and psychosocial aspects of CHQ-PF50 than did healthy children. Patients with LMMC had lower scores on some domains but had comparable psychosocial summary scores. Significant differences were noted between the MMC and LMMC groups for all subscales and both summary scores. Children with a higher lesion level had poor physical health (r = -0.52, P < 0.001) but not poor psychosocial health. The number of associated medical problems, indicating their severity, was related to both physical (r = -0.77, P < 0.001) and psychosocial health (r = -0.57, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children and adolescents with MMC have reduced HRQL compared with those with LMMC. Children and adolescents with more associated medical problems have the greatest risk of diminished physical and psychosocial well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan 11217, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jia-Chi
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chih-Jou
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Tai-Tong
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Muh-Lii
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Hsin-Hung
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rai-Chi
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Tsui-Fen
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan