Longitudinal changes in health-related quality of life in preschool children with cerebral palsy of different levels of motor severity

BACKGROUND: When setting goals for cerebral palsy (CP) interventions, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important outcome. AIMS: To compare longitudinal changes in HRQoL in children with CP of different levels of motor severity. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Seventy-three children with CP were collected and classified into three groups based on Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels. HRQoL was assessed by parent's proxy of the TNO-AZL Preschool Quality of Life (TAPQOL) at baseline and 6 months later. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Children with GMFCS level V had a lower total TAPQOL score and scores in all domains than those with level I-IV (p<0.01), except for the non-motor subdomain of physical functioning at follow-up. With regards to longitudinal changes, the children with GMFCS level V had greater improvements in physical (p=0.016) and cognitive functioning (p=0.042), but greater deterioration in emotional functioning (p=0.008) than those with levels I-II at 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Motor severity was associated with TAPQOL scores in all domains and changes in some domains in children with CP. Clinicians should early identify children at risk of a poor HRQoL and plan timely treatment strategies to enhance the HRQoL of children with CP.