Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
Health-related quality of life and impact of haemangiomas on children and their parents
Section snippets
Participants
All patients aged 1 to 15 years with a diagnosis of haemangioma who were seen in 3 years in the Academic Medical Centre of Amsterdam and their parents were enrolled into this study. They consulted the department of dermatology or plastic and reconstructive surgery. These departments serve as a referral centre for haemangiomas and vascular malformations. In general the treatment of haemangiomas in both departments is a ‘wait and see’ policy, with medical treatment or excision if necessary. An
Patients' sample
Of the 298 children seen with a haemangioma, 62 had unknown addresses. Into this study 236 children with a haemangioma were enrolled The male:female ratio is 72 (31%):164 (69%). The questionnaire was returned by 201 parents of children with a haemangioma (85%), 73% of which were female. In the age group 1 to 5 years, 113 parents of children participated, from 6 to 7 years, 27 parents of children, and from 8 to 15 years, 61 children and their parents participated. Some parents (n = 7) filled in
Discussion
This is the first study to describe the HRQoL of children with haemangiomas and their parents using well-developed and validated instruments in different age groups. The results of the present study indicate that having (had) a haemangioma does not negatively influence the HRQoL. Some differences were found for children aged 1–5 years, having more abdominal, pulmonal, and skin problems. These differences are difficult to explain. Possibly parents are more insecure during the first years of
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