Relationship between quality of life and functional status of young adults and adults with cerebral palsy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was investigate the relation between health related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional status in young adult or adult cerebral palsied individuals.
METHODS: The study included 45 cerebral palsied subjects who were divided into two groups as young adults (n = 21, group 1) and adults (n = 24, group 2), over the age 15 years. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Functional Independence Measurement (FIM), Physical Mobility Scale (PMS), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used as outcome measures.
RESULTS: In group 1, GMFCS and PMS scores were significantly correlated with total the total score of FIM (p < 0.05). Although total FIM, PMS, LS and GMFCS scores were not correlated with the total NHP score (p > 0.05), pain subscale of NHP was significantly correlated with self care and mobility subscales of FIM (p < 0.05). Also, self care, mobility, locomotion subscales and total score of FIM were highly correlated with the physical activity subscale of NHP (p < 0.05). In group 2, our findings were also similar to those of young adults when the relations between total NHP score and total FIM, PMS, LS and GMFCS were investigated (p > 0.05) and also some subscales of FIM and NHP presented high correlations in between. In addition, there were significant differences between the groups in GMFCS, LS and locomotion and self care subscales of FIM (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Although HRQoL in young cerebral palsied individuals seems to be more effected by parameters related to physical condition, in cerebral palsied adults psychological and emotional aspects may be more important indicators related to HRQoL. For that reasons, more population specific measures have to be developed for in-depth analysis of these factors.