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Evaluation of the quality of life of children with celiac disease and their parents: a case–control study

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of children with CD and of their parents and to compare it with that of children without CD and of their parents.

Methods

A case–control study was conducted to evaluate the quality of life of children (5–12 years) with CD and one of their parents, compared to the QoL of children without CD (and their parents as their caregivers ). The QoL was assessed by applying the following questionnaires: AUQUEI (children) and WHOQOL-BREF (parents).

Results

QoL was evaluated in 33 children with CD, 63 children without CD, and of their respective parents as their parent caregivers (96 adults). QoL total scores were similar between the groups of children with and without CD. However, in the Leisure dimension, the scores of children with CD were significantly lower than those of the controls (P = 0.029). Similarly, when assessing the QoL of the parents, we found scores significantly lower in the social dimension (P = 0.0196) for parents of children with CD compared to parents of children without CD. Family income presented an impact on the QoL in adults, but did not affect children. In CD group, children of mothers who had lower educational levels presented better scores in the function dimension, regarding self-care and autonomy.

Conclusions

There is an impairment of the QoL of children with CD and of their parents, with regard to social life, particularly in the leisure (children) and social (adults) dimensions.

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Abbreviations

QoL:

Quality of life

CD:

Celiac disease

GFD:

Gluten-free diet

CT:

Control group

AUQUEI:

Quality of life assessment tool for children

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank UFSC, HIJG, the Health and Education Municipal Department of Florianopolis and the Association of Celiac Patients of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, for kindly providing data for the present study.

Conflicts of interest

The authors do not report any potential conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Paediatrics, Hospital Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Cláudia Maria de Lorenzo, João Carlos Xikota, Mônica Chang Wayhs & Maria Marlene de Souza Pires

  2. Department of Paediatrics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Rua Dom Joaquim, 827/501—Centro, Florianópolis, SC, 88015-310, Brazil

    João Carlos Xikota, Mônica Chang Wayhs & Maria Marlene de Souza Pires

  3. Department de Information Technology and Statistics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Sílvia Modesto Nassar

  4. Transdisciplinary Center in Support of Human Development (Núcleo Desenvolver) of the Graduation Course in Medicine, Women & Infants System—UNISUL, Tubarão, Brazil

    João Carlos Xikota

Authors
  1. Cláudia Maria de Lorenzo
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  2. João Carlos Xikota
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  3. Mônica Chang Wayhs
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  4. Sílvia Modesto Nassar
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  5. Maria Marlene de Souza Pires
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Marlene de Souza Pires.

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de Lorenzo, C.M., Xikota, J.C., Wayhs, M.C. et al. Evaluation of the quality of life of children with celiac disease and their parents: a case–control study. Qual Life Res 21, 77–85 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-9930-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-9930-7

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