Clinical Factors Affecting Condition-Specific Quality-of-Life Domains in Pediatric Patients after Repair of Esophageal Atresia: The Swedish-German EA-QOL Study.

Introduction:  We aimed to identify clinical factors affecting condition-specific health related quality of life (HRQOL) domains in children born with esophageal atresia (EA). This can facilitate preventive care to risk groups of HRQOL impairments.

Materials And Methods:  A total of 124 Swedish and German families of EA children answered the validated EA-QOL questionnaires (response rate 68%), for evaluation of three HRQOL domains in children 2 to 7 years old (53 parents) and four HRQOL domains in children 8 to 17 years old (62 children/71 parents). Clinical data were collected through medical records and a questionnaire. Statistics included between-group analysis, univariable and stepwise multivariable regression analysis,  < 0.05.

Results:  Between 2 to 7 years, no primary anastomosis ( = 0.022) and female gender ( = 0.026) predicted worse scores related to "physical health and treatment," and gastrostomy insertion related to "eating" ( = 0.0001), and "social isolation and stress" ( = 0.001). Between 8 to 17 years, no primary anastomosis (child report), prematurity, esophageal dilatation (parent report) predicted poor HRQOL related to "eating" ( < 0.05), associated anomalies to "body perception" ( = 0.031, parent report), female gender ( = 0.018, child report) and severe EA ( = 0.011 child report,  = 0.004 parent report) to "social relationships," and severe EA predicted worse "health and well-being" scores ( = 0.004, parent report). An increased number of digestive symptoms (difficulty swallowing food, heartburn, and vomiting), lowered all EA-QOL domain scores in both age groups ( < 0.001). An increased number of respiratory problems (cough, wheezing, airway infections. breathlessness, and chest tightness), lowered scores in two HRQOL domains among children 2 to 7 years ( < 0.05).

Conclusion:  Impairments within condition-specific HRQOL domains in EA children are found in congenital and surgical subgroups, and notably related to digestive symptoms throughout childhood.