Pediatric patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) experience a significant reduction in their health-related quality of life (HRQOL), particularly impacting their school functioning. This comparative analysis examines the effects of IBS on various aspects of HRQOL in children, comparing them to healthy children and those with other gastrointestinal disorders. The study utilized the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales to assess Physical, Emotional, Social, and School Functioning in children diagnosed with IBS, functional abdominal pain (FAP), and organic GI disorders.
The research, conducted across pediatric gastroenterology clinics in California, Texas, and New Jersey, involved 287 families. Data was collected through both child self-report (280) and parent proxy-report (286). The findings revealed that children with IBS reported significantly lower scores across all four domains of the PedsQL™ compared to healthy children. Furthermore, their HRQOL was comparable to that of children diagnosed with FAP and organic GI disorders.
A key aspect of this study was the investigation into the correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms and generic HRQOL. The results confirmed a significant association between the severity of GI symptoms and diminished HRQOL. This underscores the substantial impact of these symptoms on a child’s overall well-being. Moreover, the study explored the number of school days missed, days spent sick in bed, and days requiring care due to illness.
Children with IBS missed significantly more school days, experienced more days confined to bed due to illness, and required care more frequently than healthy children. However, they reported fewer sick days and required less care compared to children with FAP and organic GI disorders. This suggests that while IBS significantly impacts daily life and school attendance, its impact may be less severe compared to other gastrointestinal conditions.
The overall diminished HRQOL observed in pediatric IBS patients, especially in the areas of Physical, Emotional, Social, and School Functioning, highlights the need for interventions specifically designed to address these challenges. The findings emphasize the importance of recognizing the multifaceted impact of IBS on children’s lives and underscore the need for comprehensive management strategies. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating targeted interventions aimed at improving the HRQOL and reducing the academic burden on children with IBS.
