Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents with Neurofibromatosis-1: A Pattern of Similarity with Other Serious Chronic Illnesses Jessica M. Joseph 1, Rebecca E. Shefsky 1, W. Hobart Davies 2, 3, Bonita P. Klein-Tasman 1, & Molly M. Garwood 3 1 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and 2 Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, 3 Medical College of Wisconsin OBJECTIVES RESULTS CONCLUSIONS CONTACT INFORMATION Corresponding Author: Jessica M. Joseph, B.A. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2441 E. Hartford Ave. Milwaukee, WI address: Neurofibromatosis (NF-1) is the most common single-gene autosomal dominant disorder (North et al., 1994) affecting approximately 1 in 3000 individuals of all races and ethnicities.Neurofibromatosis (NF-1) is the most common single-gene autosomal dominant disorder (North et al., 1994) affecting approximately 1 in 3000 individuals of all races and ethnicities. NF-1 is the result of a random or inherited genetic mutation with approximately 50% of individuals having a parent with NF-1.NF-1 is the result of a random or inherited genetic mutation with approximately 50% of individuals having a parent with NF-1. Previous research has shown that adolescents with NF-1 report lower rates of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) than healthy children (Graf, et al., 2006; Wolkenstein, et a., 2006).Previous research has shown that adolescents with NF-1 report lower rates of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) than healthy children (Graf, et al., 2006; Wolkenstein, et a., 2006). Preliminary research has also examined the impact of having a parent with NF-1 on HRQOL (Reiter-Purtill et al., 2008) which will be further examined in this study.Preliminary research has also examined the impact of having a parent with NF-1 on HRQOL (Reiter-Purtill et al., 2008) which will be further examined in this study. The goal of the current study is to compare HRQOL in adolescents with NF-1 with both healthy children and children with other chronic medical conditions using a measure well validated for a variety of pediatric populations.The goal of the current study is to compare HRQOL in adolescents with NF-1 with both healthy children and children with other chronic medical conditions using a measure well validated for a variety of pediatric populations. METHODOLOGY Participants were recruited through a NF-1 clinic at a large Midwestern children’s hospital. Participants had a diagnosis of NF-1, were between the ages of 12 and 18 years, and lived within 120 miles of the hospital. Families were interviewed in their homes.Participants were recruited through a NF-1 clinic at a large Midwestern children’s hospital. Participants had a diagnosis of NF-1, were between the ages of 12 and 18 years, and lived within 120 miles of the hospital. Families were interviewed in their homes. The final sample size was twenty-five adolescents ages 12 to 18 years (M = 13.96, SD = 2.03), with 56 percent of the sample being female.The final sample size was twenty-five adolescents ages 12 to 18 years (M = 13.96, SD = 2.03), with 56 percent of the sample being female. Twenty-four mothers and 14 fathers participated in this study but demographic information was provided for all 50 parents.Twenty-four mothers and 14 fathers participated in this study but demographic information was provided for all 50 parents. Twelve of the adolescents (48%) had a parent with NF-1.Twelve of the adolescents (48%) had a parent with NF-1. HRQOL was assessed with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory v 4.0 (PedsQL; Varni et al., 2001). Higher HRQOL scores indicate better functioning.HRQOL was assessed with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory v 4.0 (PedsQL; Varni et al., 2001). Higher HRQOL scores indicate better functioning. NF-1 HRQOL scores were compared with healthy control and chronic illness composites that were established by Varni (2001) from a sample of 963 children and 1677 parents who completed the PedsQL during their visits to hospital specialty clinics.NF-1 HRQOL scores were compared with healthy control and chronic illness composites that were established by Varni (2001) from a sample of 963 children and 1677 parents who completed the PedsQL during their visits to hospital specialty clinics. Poster presented at the 2009 Midwest Conference on Pediatric Psychology, Kansas City, Missouri This project is supported by a grant awarded to the last author from the Children’s Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. The use of the PedsQL allowed for the comparison of HRQOL in youth with NF-1 to other chronic illness populations and established control groups (Varni et al., 2001).The use of the PedsQL allowed for the comparison of HRQOL in youth with NF-1 to other chronic illness populations and established control groups (Varni et al., 2001). Child-, mother-, and father- HRQOL total score means were all closer to the scores of the chronic illness composite than the healthy controls although only mother-reported values were statistically different from healthy controls.Child-, mother-, and father- HRQOL total score means were all closer to the scores of the chronic illness composite than the healthy controls although only mother-reported values were statistically different from healthy controls. There were no significant differences between reported HRQOL and the chronic illness composites suggesting that adolescents with NF-1 and their parents are reporting rates of impaired quality of life similar to other chronic illness populations (Varni et al., 1999). There were no significant differences between reported HRQOL and the chronic illness composites suggesting that adolescents with NF-1 and their parents are reporting rates of impaired quality of life similar to other chronic illness populations (Varni et al., 1999). Adolescents’ self-report of their overall, physical and psychosocial functioning did not vary by parental NF-1 status. There was a large effect size found for youths’ reports of their ability to do physical activities, though, indicating that with a larger sample size a significant difference would be anticipated.Adolescents’ self-report of their overall, physical and psychosocial functioning did not vary by parental NF-1 status. There was a large effect size found for youths’ reports of their ability to do physical activities, though, indicating that with a larger sample size a significant difference would be anticipated. In summary, adolescents with NF-1 were described as having lower quality of life compared with adolescents without chronic illnesses at rates that were similar with other chronic illness populations.In summary, adolescents with NF-1 were described as having lower quality of life compared with adolescents without chronic illnesses at rates that were similar with other chronic illness populations. Future work with multiple measures and larger samples would allow differences to be examined within the domains of quality of life and obtain a better description of the impact of having NF-1 on social, emotional, school and physical functioning.Future work with multiple measures and larger samples would allow differences to be examined within the domains of quality of life and obtain a better description of the impact of having NF-1 on social, emotional, school and physical functioning. Adolescent reports of HRQOL (M=77.30) were not significantly different than healthy controls (M=83.00) or the chronic illness composite (M=77.19).Adolescent reports of HRQOL (M=77.30) were not significantly different than healthy controls (M=83.00) or the chronic illness composite (M=77.19). There were also no significant differences based on fathers’ reports of total HRQOL (M=75.23) with either the chronic illness composite (M= 74.11) or the healthy controls (M = 87.61).There were also no significant differences based on fathers’ reports of total HRQOL (M=75.23) with either the chronic illness composite (M= 74.11) or the healthy controls (M = 87.61). Mother’s reports of total HRQOL (M=69.04) did differ significantly from that of healthy controls (M=87.61) and was numerically less than but did not differ significantly from the chronic illness composite (M = 74.22).Mother’s reports of total HRQOL (M=69.04) did differ significantly from that of healthy controls (M=87.61) and was numerically less than but did not differ significantly from the chronic illness composite (M = 74.22). No significant differences were found for youth-report HRQOL ratings between adolescents with a parent with NF-1 and adolescents without a parent with NF-1.No significant differences were found for youth-report HRQOL ratings between adolescents with a parent with NF-1 and adolescents without a parent with NF-1. RESULTS (cont) HRQOL ratings from this sample were compared to previously established composites using one-sample t-tests (see Table 1).HRQOL ratings from this sample were compared to previously established composites using one-sample t-tests (see Table 1). Differences in HRQOL for children with and without a parent with NF-1 were also examined with independent samples t-tests (see Table 2).Differences in HRQOL for children with and without a parent with NF-1 were also examined with independent samples t-tests (see Table 2). Table 1 : One-Sample T-Tests Comparing HRQOL Total Scores of Adolescents with NF-1, Healthy Controls, and Children with Chronic Illnesses dftp Cohen’s d Child Report NF-1 and Healthy Controls NF-1 and Chronic Illness Composite Mother Report NF-1 and Healthy Controls <.01** 1.13 NF-1 and Chronic Illness Composite Father Report NF-1 and Healthy Controls NF-1 and Chronic Illness Composite Table 2: Independent Samples T-tests Examining HRQOL Differences in Adolescents with a Parent with NF-1 and Adolescents without a Parent with NF-1 MSDdftpCohen’s d Total Score Parents without NF Parents with NF Physical Summary Score Parents without NF Parents with NF Psychosocial Summary Score Parents without NF Parents with NF *T-test is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed), **T-test is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)