title: Quality of life and functional outcome in early school-aged children after neonatal stroke: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life (QoL) is recognized internationally as an efficient tool for evaluating health interventions. To our knowledge, QoL has not been specifically assessed in children after neonatal arterial ischemic stroke (AIS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the QoL of early school-aged children who suffered from neonatal AIS, and QoL correlation to functional outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study as part of a larger study in full-term newborns with symptomatic AIS. Participating families were sent anonymous QoL questionnaires (QUALIN). Functional outcome was measured using the Wee-FIM scale. Healthy controls in the same age range were recruited in public schools. Their primary caregivers filled in the QUALIN questionnaires anonymously. We used Student's t-test and a rank test to compare patients and controls' QoL and functional outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  84 children with neonatal AIS were included. The control group was composed of 74 children, of which ten were later excluded due to chronic conditions. Mean ages and QUALIN median scores did not differ between patients and controls. Median Wee-FIM scores were lower in hemiplegic children than in non-hemiplegic ones (p < 0.001). QoL scores did not seem correlated to functional outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those results could support the presence of a "disability paradox" in young children following neonatal AIS.
authors: CHU Saint-Etienne, Médecine physique et réadaptation pédiatrique, F-42055 Saint-Etienne, France; Université de Saint-Etienne, Groupe de recherche sur la thrombose EA3065, Saint-Etienne F-42023, France. Electronic address: stefdart@gmail.com.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Darteyre
authors: Inserm, CIC1408, F-42055 Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Renaud
authors: CHU Lyon, l'Escale, Médecine physique et réadaptation pédiatrique, F-69677 Bron, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Vuillerot
authors: Université de Saint-Etienne, Groupe de recherche sur la thrombose EA3065, Saint-Etienne F-42023, France; Inserm, CIC1408, F-42055 Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Presles
authors: APHP, Hôpital Necker-Enfants malades, Service de neuropédiatrie et maladies métaboliques, F-75015 Paris, France.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kossorotoff
authors: LUNAM, Université d'Angers, CHU Angers, Département de médecine physique et réadaptation, F-49933, France.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dinomais
authors: CH Côte-Basque, Service de pédiatrie, Bayonne F-64109, France.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Lazaro
authors: CHU Saint-Etienne, Médecine physique et réadaptation pédiatrique, F-42055 Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Gautheron
authors: CHU Saint-Etienne, Médecine physique et réadaptation pédiatrique, F-42055 Saint-Etienne, France; Université de Saint-Etienne, Groupe de recherche sur la thrombose EA3065, Saint-Etienne F-42023, France; Inserm, CIC1408, F-42055 Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Chabrier
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cerebral palsy; Children; Disability; Neonatal stroke; Quality of life