Quality of Life in Children with Non-Cystic-Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Abstract

Background: Non-cystic-fibrosis bronchiectasis (non-CF BE) continues to be a problem in developing countries and it is therefore important to examine and assess this disease. Objectives: The aims of this prospective study were to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in non-CF BE children and also to assess the risk factors associated with HRQOL. Methods: Forty-two non-CF BE patients between the ages of 9 and 18 years were enrolled in the study. All recruited patients completed the generic Short-Form-36 (SF-36), the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for disease-specific QOL scale and forms on socioeconomic status (SES). The extent and severity of CT abnormalities were evaluated by using the modified Bhalla scoring system. Association between HRQOL questionnaires and demographic variables, pulmonary function test, high-resolution CT scores and SES were evaluated. Results: SF-36 and SGRQ subscales all correlated inversely with each other (SF-36 physical component summary with SGRQ symptoms score: r = -0.466, p = 0.001, activity score: r = -0.666, p = 0.000 and impact score: r = -0.667, p = 0.000. SF-36 mental component summary with SGRQ symptoms score: r = -0.396, p = 0.005, activity score: r = -0.533, p = 0.000 and impact score: r = -0.512, p = 0.000). There was an inverse correlation between SGRQ symptoms scores and the duration of regular follow-up (r = -0.3, p = 0.04). The symptoms subscale of SGRQ correlated positively with low values for pulmonary function testing (r = -0.417, p = 0.003) and frequent antibiotic requirements (r = 0.303, p = 0.035). Conclusions: Early diagnosis and regular follow-up of children with non-CF BE is important for improving their QOL. As expected, the severity and frequency of symptoms are inversely related to the pulmonary function and the QOL scores. A disease-specific questionnaire should be developed to monitor QOL in children with non-CF BE.

Bronchiectasis and Chronic Suppurative Lung Disease

“…In the stable state, poorer QoL was significantly recorded with younger children, but QoL did not relate to the radiological extent, lung function, or underlying etiology. 49 In contrast, a Turkish study 48 described that the severity and frequency of symptoms were inversely related to the pulmonary function and the QoL scores (nonpediatric scales were used) in 42 children aged 9 to 18 years. Another Turkish study 50 involving 76 Caucasian children with bronchiectasis and 65 controls used self-reported questionnaires to evaluate the psychological status (using the Child Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventories for Children, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventories).…”

“…In recent years, four pediatric studies in three different continents evaluated the impact of bronchiectasis on the child's and/or parents' health-related quality of life (QoL). 3,[48][49][50] Using the Parent Cough-Specific Quality of Life (PC-QoL) 51 and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) questionnaires, a Malaysian 3 study described that children with CF had better parental mental health compared to children with non-CF CSLD. Overall, 77% of parents had abnormal DASS-21 scores (54% stressed and 51% depressed).…”

Review: Quality of Life in Children with Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

“…Another Turkish study looked at the QOL of 42 children aged 9–18 years old with NCFB and its risk factors, using the generic Short Form-36 (SF-36) and SGRQ (23). The risk factors investigated, besides sociodemographic variables, were lung function and high-resolution CT scores.…”

“…There was an inverse correlation between SGRQ symptom scores and the duration of regular follow-up ( r  = −0.3, p  = 0.04). There was no correlation between total SGRQ scores and current age ( r  = −0.04, p  > 0.01), age at diagnosis ( r  = −0.09, p  > 0.01), age when symptoms began ( r  = −0.15, p  > 0.01), height and weight Z -scores, etiology of NCFB, sputum microbiology, HRCT score ( r  = 0.57, p  > 0.01), and socioeconomic status ( r  = 0.50, p  > 0.01) (23). …”

Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Functional Predictors of Efficacy

“…The causes of dyspnea and reduced exercise capacity are multifactorial: altered pulmonary mechanics, inefficient gas exchange, decreased muscle mass, and confounding psychological morbidity lead to a progressive detraining effect [1,2] . Individuals with non-CF bronchiectasis may also show a health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment [5] , even at a young age [6] .…”