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The effect of paediatric syncope on health-related quality of life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Jeffrey B. Anderson ,
Richard J. Czosek ,
Timothy K. Knilans  and
Bradley S. Marino
Jeffrey B. Anderson*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
Richard J. Czosek
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
Timothy K. Knilans
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
Bradley S. Marino
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
*
Correspondence to: Dr J. Anderson, MD, MPH, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, ML 2003, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America. Tel: + 1 513 636 3865; Fax: + 1 513 636 3952; E-mail: jeffrey.anderson@cchmc.org
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Abstract

Background

Syncope is common in children and adolescents and most commonly represents neurocardiogenic syncope. No information has been reported regarding the effect of syncope on health-related quality of life in children.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients seen in the Heart Institute Syncope Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center between July, 2009 and June, 2010. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the PedsQL™ tool. PedsQL™ scores were compared with both healthy historical controls and historical controls with chronic illnesses.

Results

A total of 106 patients were included for analysis. In all, 90% were Caucasian and 63% were girls. The median age was 15.1 years (8.2–21.6). Compared with healthy controls, patients had lower PedsQL™ scores: Total score (75.2 versus 83.8, p < 0.0001); Physical Health Summary (78.8 versus 87.5, p < 0.0001); Psychosocial Health Summary (73.9 versus 81.9, p < 0.001), Emotional Functioning (68.9 versus 79.3, p < 0.001); and School Functioning (66.4 versus 81.1, p < 0.001). No difference was seen in Social Functioning (86.2 versus 85.2, p = 0.81). Patients also had lower PedsQL™ Total scores than patients with diabetes mellitus (p < 0.0001) and similar scores to patients with asthma, end-stage renal disease, obesity, and structural heart disease.

Conclusion

Children with syncope, although typically benign in aetiology, can have low health-related quality of life.

Keywords

Paediatricsyncopequality of life
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 22 , Issue 5 , 13 September 2012 , pp. 583 - 588
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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