Quality of Life and Family Impact in Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Co-occurring Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. 2023

Cara Soccorso, and Anna Milliken, and Margaret Hojlo, and Katherine Pawlowski, and Sarah Weas, and Georgios Sideridis, and Nicole Baumer
Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA.

Families of children with neurodevelopmental disorders have developmental, behavioral, and social-emotional needs that affect quality of life (QoL). This study assesses the validity and utility of a caregiver QoL measure; characterizes QoL in families with children with Down syndrome (DS), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and a dual diagnosis of DS and ASD (DS + ASD); and compares and explores differences in QoL based on diagnosis. Caregivers of children and adolescents with ASD (n = 610) and DS (n = 177) completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Family Impact Module 2.0, yielding overall, parent functioning, family functioning, and subscale scores, and a Parent Global Impression (PGI) rating. An ASD cohort (n = 177) was sex matched to the DS cohort (n = 177) to mitigate potential sex bias. Additional analyses compared these groups with children and adolescents with DS + ASD (n = 37). Analyses showed that the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory was valid and reliable in DS, ASD, and DS + ASD populations. No differences were reported in PGI ratings among groups. Caregivers in the DS group demonstrated higher QoL and family functioning compared with the ASD and DS + ASD groups. The DS group reported significantly better Emotional Functioning and Communication and less Worry than the ASD group. Compared with the ASD group, caregivers of the DS + ASD group indicated more concerns with Physical Functioning. Notably, the DS + ASD group had significantly lower levels of QoL than the DS group in nearly all caregiver functioning domains. This study highlights differences in QoL within and between neurodevelopmental disorder groups, which may help identify families requiring additional support, advocacy, and community engagement.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011788 Quality of Life A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral, social environment as well as health and disease. HRQOL,Health-Related Quality Of Life,Life Quality,Health Related Quality Of Life
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003142 Communication The exchange or transmission of ideas, attitudes, or beliefs between individuals or groups. Miscommunication,Misinformation,Social Communication,Communication Programs,Communications Personnel,Personal Communication,Communication Program,Communication, Personal,Communication, Social,Communications, Social,Miscommunications,Misinformations,Personnel, Communications,Program, Communication,Programs, Communication,Social Communications
D004314 Down Syndrome A chromosome disorder associated either with an extra CHROMOSOME 21 or an effective TRISOMY for chromosome 21. Clinical manifestations include HYPOTONIA, short stature, BRACHYCEPHALY, upslanting palpebral fissures, epicanthus, Brushfield spots on the iris, protruding tongue, small ears, short, broad hands, fifth finger clinodactyly, single transverse palmar crease, and moderate to severe INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. Cardiac and gastrointestinal malformations, a marked increase in the incidence of LEUKEMIA, and the early onset of ALZHEIMER DISEASE are also associated with this condition. Pathologic features include the development of NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES in neurons and the deposition of AMYLOID BETA-PROTEIN, similar to the pathology of ALZHEIMER DISEASE. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p213) Mongolism,Trisomy 21,47,XX,+21,47,XY,+21,Down Syndrome, Partial Trisomy 21,Down's Syndrome,Partial Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome,Trisomy 21, Meiotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy 21, Mitotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy G,Downs Syndrome,Syndrome, Down,Syndrome, Down's
D004644 Emotions Those affective states which can be experienced and have arousing and motivational properties. Feelings,Regret,Emotion,Feeling,Regrets
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000067877 Autism Spectrum Disorder Wide continuum of associated cognitive and neurobehavioral disorders, including, but not limited to, three core-defining features: impairments in socialization, impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors. (from DSM-V) Autistic Spectrum Disorder,Autism Spectrum Disorders,Autistic Spectrum Disorders,Disorder, Autistic Spectrum
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

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