Quality-of-life after brain injury in childhood: Time, not severity, is the significant factor. (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: DeMatteo, Carol A.; Hanna, Steven E.; Yousefi-Nooraie, Reza; Lin, Chia-Yu A.; Mahoney, William J.; Law, Mary C.; McCauley, Dayle
• Is Part Of: Brain injury. Volume 28:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 114
• Page End: 121
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Brain damage -- Periodicals; Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Brain Injuries -- Periodicals; 617.481
• DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2013.848380
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9052

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: Little is known about the impact of acquired brain injury (ABI) on the long-term quality-of-life (QoL) in children and youth. The objectives of this study were to illustrate the long-term QoL trajectories at 5 years post-ABI.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: The QoL of children between 5–18 years (<italic>n</italic> = 94) admitted to McMaster Children's Hospital with ABI were assessed longitudinally for a minimum of 5 years post-injury using the Child Health Questionnaire. Independent <italic>t</italic>-tests were used to examine differences in QoL between the study cohort and a normative sample at different time points. Mixed-effects models were used to identify predictors for QoL.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: The QoL of children with ABI was significantly poorer (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05) than the normative data on all domains and at all-time points except at baseline. The CHQ physical summary score (PHSS) showed a significant decline immediately after injury and a significant recovery at 8 months post-injury; while the CHQ psychosocial summary score (PSSS) showed a significant immediate decline, which remained over the course of the study. Pre-morbid school record, time post-injury and mechanism of injury significantly predicted the CHQ PSSS.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: QoL is impacted by ABI regardless of severity. This impact is further affected by time post-injury.</p> </abstract>