title: Measuring the impact of quality of life of children treated for orofacial clefts: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) of children previously treated for cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and compare with non-cleft children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study with 70 children between 5 and 12 years old was carried out. The case group consisted of 35 individuals previously treated for non-syndromic CL/P and presently receiving assessment at a rehabilitation hospital in Brazil. The children had received primary surgical treatment for CL/P reconstruction during early childhood. The control group consisted of 35 healthy children selected to ensure close similarity to the cleft group in age, gender and socioeconomic status. QoL was measured using the AUQEI questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cleft lip and palate had no significant influence on the QoL in children (p = 0.44). A higher percentage of the cleft lip and palate group of children reported a lower QoL than the cleft lip or cleft palate groups. Gender had no significant difference on the quality of life in CL/P children (p = 0.2) and in control group (p = 1.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The QoL in children with CL/P was found to be similar to the non-cleft group. Our results confirm that clefts repaired during earlier childhood associated with a health care program, including psychological support, is beneficial for CL/P children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. pntannure@gmail.com
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Tannure
authors.forename: F M M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Küchler
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Granjeiro
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000523:psychology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires