Abstract
We assessed whether dynamic preschool wheezing patterns affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at age 4 years.
The study included 3878 children participating a prospective cohort study. Information on preschool wheezing was obtained by questionnaires and children were categorised into: never, early, late and persistent wheezing. At age 4 years HRQOL was measured, using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ).
Persistent wheezing was associated with reduced scores for 9 out of 13 CHQ scales. No differences in psychosocial CHQ scores (p>0.05), but lower physical CHQ scores were found in children with late and persistent wheezing, compared to children who never wheezed (p<0.001). Mean scores on general health perceptions were respectively 8 and 12 points lower (on a 0–100 scale) in children with late and persistent wheezing (p<0.001), and children with 1–3 episodes and ≥4 episodes of wheezing in the 4th year respectively scored 7 and 24 points lower (p<0.001), compared to children who never wheezed.
Persistent wheezing during preschool age independently affects child's HRQOL, particularly general health perceptions and physical domains at age 4 years. HRQOL was more affected by frequent wheezing episodes in the 4th year of life, rather than by duration of wheezing at age 0–4 years.
- ERS