Health-related quality of life in children with rheumatic diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The effects of therapies on the physical function and health-related quality of life of patients are increasingly considered when treatment decisions are made. For the interpretation of the values of the physical function and health-related quality of life measures, their measurement properties have to be studied. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent advantages include the determination of the minimal clinically important difference of Child Health Assessment Questionnaire, the cross-cultural adaptation of the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Child Health Questionnaire, as well as the development of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. SUMMARY: Despite important advantages in the measurement of physical function and health-related quality of life, additional refinements and validation of the current scales are necessary prior to their use as primary outcome measures for medical treatments.