Study of Health-Related Quality of Life in children with Chronic Liver Diseases (An Egyptian sample, one center study)

Abstract

HRQOL was adapted from the more general and wide-ranging concept 􀇮quality of life􀇯 􀈋QOL􀈌. Because this is such a broad concept, there is no universally accepted definition for QOL. We have adopted the WHO definition of the multidimensional concept of QOL: 􀇮individuals􀇯 perceptions of their position in life in the context of the culture and value system in which they live and in relation to their goals, standards, and concerns􀇯. (WHOQOL, 2005) Patients with chronic liver disease suffer from fatigue, loss of self-esteem, inability to function at work, anxiety, depression, and other emotional problems that profoundly decrease their quality of life and well-being. (Gao et al., 2013) Given the many effects that CLD may have on patients, HRQOL should be considered an important outcome measure in the treatment of CLD patients. (Gutteling et al., 2007) Summary and Conclusion 122 Aim of this study 1- To assess Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) in a sample of Egyptian children with chronic liver diseases. 2- To assess Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) in siblings of patients. 3- To correlate severity of diseased children with the score of Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL). The present study enrolled 150 children:  Fifty patients with chronic liver disease were included in the study following up in Hepatology Clinic, Children Hospital, Ain Shams University, they were 27 males, 23 females, their age ranged from 7 to 21 years with a mean of 12.68 ± 4.24 (SD) (group 1).  One hundred healthy children also were included in the study as a control group, they were divided into two groups: