ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) is a complex concept with multiple aspects as cognitive and emotional functioning; psychological well-being; general health; physical functioning; and social well-being and functioning. Stressors that appear with cases of Congenital adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) vary and can present challenges to shared decision making with healthcare providers. Day-to-day care of a chronically ill child affects family finances and dynamics, as well as caregivers’ levels of anxiety, stress, depression and QoL.

Aim of the study: To assess the Quality of life in Children with CAH and to study the possible affecting factors.

Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 57 cases of CAH and 72 as control. The cases were recruited from Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic at Alexandria University Children’s Hospital (AUCH), Egypt. Thorough history taking and clinical examination were done. We used the Arabic form of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 (PedsQL™) generic core scale (Parent report) and (PedsQL™) generic core scale (Self- report) for children from (8-18) years to assess the child’s physical, emotional, social, and school functioning in the past one month.

Results: The age of diagnosis of CAH ranged from one day and 3 years. The duration of illness ranged from 1.1 to 16 years. 45 patients (88.2%) had one stage operation while 6 patients (11.8%) had two stages operation. 42 patients were controlled and 15 were not controlled. There was statistical significance as regard the physical function, emotional function, school function, psychosocial function and total score of quality of life (P<0.001) in which cases of CAH had lower scores than controls while as regard the social function, cases of CAH had lower score than control without statistical significance (P=0.287). Univariate analysis showed that older age, female, longer duration of illness and those been operated had a statistically significant poor impact on the quality of life.

Conclusion: Girls with CAH had significant lower physical, emotional, school function and total quality of life compared to control group. We recommend psychological counseling to all patients with CAH and their families.