Health-Related Quality of Life in Non-Concussed Children: A Normative Study to Inform Concussion Management

ABSTRACT

Purpose: There has been a shift to consider pediatric concussion recovery beyond symptom management by considering how health-related quality of life (HRQoL) affects recovery. This study investigated normative ranges of HRQoL in children and explored its relationship with common pediatric concussion variables.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1,722 non-concussed children 8–12 years old (M = 10.52 ± 1.23 years; 1,335 males, 387 females) was conducted by secondary analysis of clinical baseline concussion data. Demographic information, concussion-like symptoms (PCSI-C), and HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-10 Index) were self-reported.

Results: The most reported concussion-like symptoms were common stress symptoms and were significantly negatively correlated with HRQoL. Premorbid histories of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental health challenges, headaches/migraines, and concussion significantly lowered HRQoL. The number of diagnosed concussions and PCSI-C scores were significantly negatively correlated with HRQoL.

Conclusions: The normative ranges and model can indicate HRQoL levels to inform clinicians how children may respond to concussion and streamline care beyond traditional assessment models.

KEYWORDS:

• Health-related quality of life
• stressors
• pediatric
• children
• concussion
• concussion symptoms

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Early Concussion Care Program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, the staff that conducted the pre-injury assessments, and all the children that participated.

Declaration Statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Acquired Brain Injury Fund, which Dr Nick Reed held during his tenure as the Acquired Brain Injury Chair within the Bloorview Research Institute in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.