Impaired Health-Related Quality of Life in Brazilian Children with Chronic Abdominal Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study
10.5223/pghn.2022.25.6.500
- Author:
Carine Dias Ferreira de JESUS
1
;
Mary de ASSIS CARVALHO
;
Nilton Carlos MACHADO
Author Information
1. Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Postgraduate Student Researcher of Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
2022;25(6):500-509
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:We compared the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of children and adolescents with functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) and organic abdominal pain disorders (ORGDs).
Methods:This was a single-center, cross-sectional, observational study. The PedsQL 4.0 generic cores scales parent proxy-report was administered to parents/caregivers of 130 and 56 pediatric patients with FAPDs and ORGDs respectively on their first visit. The self-reported pain intensity in the patients was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and facial affective scale (FAS).
Results:Irritable bowel syndrome was the most prevalent FAPDs, and the most prevalent ORGDs were reflux esophagitis (41.1%) and gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori (21.4%). There was no difference in HRQOL among patients diagnosed with ORGDs and FAPDs (p>0.05). Patients with ORGDs and FAPDs had lower HRQOL Scale scores than healthy Brazilian and American children’s references, with a high proportion of children at risk for impaired HRQOL (p<0.0001). There was no difference in the VAS and the FAS scores between the ORGDs and the FAPDs. FAPDs had a higher prevalence of girls’ and couples’ disagreement (p<0.02), although poor school performance (p<0.0007) and bullying (p<0.01) were higher in patients with ORGD.
Conclusion:This study revealed that there was a difference in impaired HRQOL between patients with ORGDs and FAPDs. Thus, considering the high prevalence of chronic abdominal pain in children, a well-founded treatment plan is necessary for a multidisciplinary cognitive-behavioral Pain management program.
