Motor Performance, Health-Related Quality of Life and Self-Esteem in Early Adolescence After Neonatal Therapeutic Hypothermia

Abstract

Aim: To explore the correlation between motor performance, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and self-esteem in early adolescents treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) following neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Method: This cross-sectional study included 45 children (mean age 11 years) with a neonatal TH-treated HIE between 2007 and 2009 in Stockholm. Motor performance was assessed with Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2), HRQOL by Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0) and self-esteem with 'I Think I Am -2'. Nonparametric statistical methods were applied.

Results: Significant positive correlations were found between MABC-2 scores and all PedsQL 4.0 dimensions in parents' reports (p < 0.001-0.029). Parents reported lower PedsQL 4.0 Total scores for children below the 15th percentile on MABC-2 (p = 0.004), while the self-reports of the same children were not significant (p = 0.098). Motor performance did not affect children's self-esteem; no difference was found between the group above or the group below the 15th percentile (p = 0.881).

Conclusion: Differences between parent and child-reported outcomes suggest the need for continued follow-up of children treated with TH into adolescence, including HRQOL and self-esteem. Long-term assessment is necessary to identify challenges not captured in early childhood or by self-reports alone.

Keywords: health‐related quality of life; hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy; motor performance; perinatal asphyxia; self‐esteem; therapeutic hypothermia.