Growth-related quality of life

Abstract

Measuring a child's quality of life (QoL) is a complex dynamic, involving consideration of both present circumstances and future limitations. In relation to short stature, health-related QoL, with its emphasis on current health status, may be inadequate to describe QoL in children with treatable growth problems. Growth problems concern not only current physical health (being) and adaptation to the physical and social environment (belonging) but also what will happen in the future as a consequence of growth problems and the possibility of achieving the potential of the individual (becoming). These three aspects of QoL should be included in growth-related QoL in order to reflect the reduced QoL resulting from continued short stature and the potential benefit of growth enhancement. Future QoL instruments for growth-related problems should incorporate aspects of 'becoming' and the long-term consequences of growth improvement for the individual.