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

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.