Lungen- und Atemwegsmedizin

The Assessment of Quality of Life among Early Aged Children with Bronchiolitis and Community-Acquired Pneumonia Using Qualin and PCQ Questionnaires

Abstract

Siranush Ashot Mkrtchyan, Razmik Ashot Dunamalyan, Karine Simonyan Hrant, Marine Ararat Mardiyan* and Hayk Vachagan Harutyunyan

Background: The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the quality of life 3 years or younger children with bronchiolitis and communityacquired pneumonia using the validated Armenian version of the QUALIN and PCQ questionnaire.

Methods: The subjects of the research were children 3 years or younger. Children who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of severe bronchiolitis and community-acquired pneumonia in the “Mouratsan” University Complex formed case group. Healthy children receiving care from the Preventative Polyclinic department in same hospital were formed control group. QL were measured by QUALIN and PCQ questionnaires. Depending on the severity of community-acquired pneumonia, we have formed the 2 subgroups in case group.

Results: QUALIN scores of children with bronchiolitis and community-acquired pneumonia were lower compared with control. Were registered a dependency between the severity of community-acquired pneumonia and QL scores. In case of severe pneumonia scores of QUALIN and PCQ were more affected.

Conclusion: A significant decrease in all subscales of the QUALIN and PCQ questionnaires indicated impact of community-acquired pneumonia and bronchiolitis on QL of the early aged children. Most affected subscale in QUALIN was ARA and in PCQ Q1. All scores in case group were significantly lower than it in control group.