Health-Related Quality of Life in Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease

Background: Childhood interstitial lung diseases (chILD) encompass a diverse group of rare, chronic respiratory disorders. While treatment options are limited, evaluating health related quality of life (HrQoL) has become a vital approach for clinical monitoring. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the medical and socio-demographic factors influencing HrQoL in chILD. Methods: This study used prospectively obtained data from the chILD EU Register. Caregivers were handed validated, age-specific HrQoL questionnaires (the and ™ 4.0 ) and the scores calculated. We used exploratory univariate analyses and multivariable ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models on cross-sectional data to investigate the associations between subjectś clinical features and HrQoL scores. Conclusions: Main factors linked to reduced HrQoL scores were prior inpatient treatment and failure to thrive. Further interventional studies should determine whether addressing these factors can enhance HrQoL scores and potentially improve quality of life in chILD.