title: Prospective quality of life assessment in congenital laryngomalacia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Disturbances in breathing or feeding may profoundly affect parental perceptions of a newborn's health. Previous research into quality of life for patients with laryngomalacia is limited to retrospective analysis. The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the quality of life of families of infants with laryngomalacia and the impact of surgical and non-surgical treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot prospective analysis using the laryngomalacia quality of life (QOL) survey in families of infants with newly diagnosed laryngomalacia under age one year. A 29-question survey regarding severity of symptoms related to overall health, airway, and swallowing is completed at initial and post-treatment visits. Responses are quantified over a range from 1 to 5 (1 never to 5 always).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six families were enrolled in the study. Eleven patients were managed medically and fifteen underwent supraglottoplasty. The overall mean QOL score for patients treated medically was 2.57 (standard error, SE 0.16) on initial visit and 1.67 (SE 0.16) post-treatment (mean 3.9 months). Patients undergoing supraglottoplasty had an overall mean QOL score of 3.59 (SE 0.14) on initial visit and 2.22 (SE 0.22) post-treatment (mean 3.5 months). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc testing revealed significant improvement between initial and follow-up visits in both treatment groups (p < 0.01). Patients who underwent supraglottoplasty had significantly higher scores at initial visit (p < 0.01). No statistically significant difference was noted between patient groups post-treatment (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prospective QOL assessment of children with laryngomalacia and their families reveals a significant burden of disease. Quality of life improves in all patients but may improve more significantly in patients managed surgically.
authors.affiliation: Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. Electronic address: lakilpatrick@uams.edu.
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.affiliation: Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Jennings R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boyette
authors.affiliation: Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Larry D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hartzell
authors.affiliation: Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Julien A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.affiliation: Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Boswell
authors.affiliation: Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.affiliation: Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Gresham T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D055092:Laryngomalacia / Q000151:congenital* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Laryngomalacia; Quality of life