Health- and oral health-related quality of life among preschool children with cerebral palsy

OBJECTIVES: To assess the health- and oral health-related quality of life of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to determine their inter-relationship between the two quality of life measures. METHODS: A total of 144 preschool children with and without CP were invited to participate in the case–control study. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 (PedsQL(™) 4.0) and oral health-related quality of life by the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). Differences in PedsQL(™) 4.0 and ECOHIS scores were determined between the groups, and correlation between PedsQL and ECOHIS were explored. RESULTS: Significant differences in overall scores of PedsQL(™) 4.0 (P < 0.001) and in overall scores of ECOHIS (P < 0.05) were apparent between the two groups. In terms of health- and oral health-related quality of life, preschool children with CP fared worse than the age–gender-matched control group. There was a positive albeit weak correlation (r = 0.203, P < 0.05) between PedsQL(™) 4.0 and ECOHIS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in health- and oral health-related quality of life exist among preschool children with CP. Correlation between health- and oral health-related quality of life could at best be described as weak.