Health-related Quality of Life in Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy.

, Ko, Joo Yeon; , Lee, Byoung Hee; , Kim, Min Young

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2009;33(4):415-422.

Ko, Joo Yeon , Lee, Byoung Hee , Kim, Min Young

¹Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Bundang CHA General Hospital, Korea.
²Department of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University, Korea.
³Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, CHA University, Korea. kmin@cha.ac.kr

중증뇌성마비 아동의 건강관련 삶의 질

고주연, 이병희¹, 김민영²

분당차병원 재활의학과, ¹삼육대학교 물리치료학과, ²차의과학대학교 재활의학교실

Abstract

Objective
To describe the motor development and quality of life in children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) stratified by gross motor function classification system (GMFCS), and to investigate various factors that affect quality of life in these subjects.
Method
Ninety eight children with severe cerebral palsy, mean age 5.8y, were included. The assessment consisted of a clinical evaluation of gross motor function measure (GMFM), a semi-structured interview for child health questionnaire (CHQ), and a review of medical records.
Results
CP in GMFCS level V showed lower mean score of GMFM and CHQ than level IV (p＜0.05). Scores that present physical quality of life were lower than scores of psychosocial quality of life (p＜0.05). Motor distribution and sex were found to be significant factors that affect quality of life in children with severe CP (p＜0.05). In particular, as the father's education level is higher, the physical quality of life in CP is better (p＜0.05).
Conclusion
In this study, we report general life quality status of children with severe CP in Korea. Some factors such as severity and distribution of paralysis of the CP, sex, parental factor were found to affect their quality of life. We suggest that it is necessary to consider not only motor function, but also quality of life for children with severe CP. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2009; 33: 415-422)

Key Words: Cerebral palsy, Physical quality of life, Psychosocial quality of life