Pediatric Quality of Life Post Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In brief

This systematic review synthesizes parent- and child-reported quality of life data for pediatric patients following surgical repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The meta-analysis provides quantitative evidence on long-term functional and psychosocial outcomes in CDH survivors, informing clinical counseling and follow-up care strategies.

• Children with CDH show significantly lower QoL scores compared to healthy peers across multiple domains.
• Physical functioning is the most impaired QoL domain in CDH survivors, reflecting ongoing respiratory and motor challenges.
• Parent-proxy reports often differ from child self-reports, highlighting the need for both perspectives in assessment.
• Long-term QoL deficits persist into adolescence, emphasizing the need for continued multidisciplinary follow-up.
• Standardized QoL measurement tools are essential for comparing outcomes across CDH treatment centers.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.