: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome among children with Hirschsprung Disease (HD), but there are challenges in interpreting findings in previous studies due to the choice of a comparator group and informant. We compared parent-proxy versus child self-report HRQOL in children with HD to children with functional constipation (FC) and examined predictors of HRQOL.
: Data of 126 children (5-18 years, 60.3% male, HD: n=52, FC: n=74) were acquired from the Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium. Demographics, clinical variables, HRQOL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory parent-proxy; child self-report) and functional outcomes (Baylor Continence Scale, Cleveland Clinic Constipation Scoring System) were collected.
: Parent and child HRQOL was similar for both cohorts, with higher scores on physical functioning and lower scores on emotional and school functioning. For children with HD, demographics and clinical variables did not predict HRQOL in multivariable regression models. For children with FC, greater severity of constipation predicted lower HRQOL (parent-proxy: B=-2.14, p
