Health-related quality of life in children and youth with acquired brain injury: Two years after injury

ObjectiveTo determine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and youth with acquired brain injury (ABI) two years post-injury and explore associated factors.DesignCross-sectional.SubjectsChildren and youth (n = 72; aged 6–22 years) with mild to severe ABI (87% mild).MethodsThe primary outcome measures self-reported and parent-reported HRQoL were assessed with the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and compared with age-appropriate reference values of the Dutch population. Spearman correlation coefficients (Rs) were used to explore relationships between HRQoL and sociodemographic and ABI characteristics, severity of impairments and presence of post-injury problems.ResultsChildren and youth with ABI and the reference population had similar self-reported HRQoL. However, as reported by parents, children with ABI aged 6–7 years and youth aged 13–18 years had poorer HRQoL regarding psychosocial health. Children's post-injury cognitive, behavioural and social problems were moderately associated with poorer HRQoL, especially psychosocial health (Rs ≥ 0.40). Severity nor type of injury were associated with children's HRQoL.ConclusionTwo years post-injury, in children and youth with mild to severe ABI, reported HRQoL is similar to that in the general population, whereas parents reported less favourable outcomes. Post-injury cognitive, behavioural and social problems require ongoing attention during long-term follow-up.