Health Related Quality of Life and the Quality of Sleep in School Aged Children with Functional Constipation

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to investigate the sleep quality and health related quality of life in children with functional constipation. Fifty patients (7–13 years) attended to our general pediatric outpatient clinic and diagnosed with functional constipation and 50 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Health-related quality of life was assessed by using Kid-KINDL inventory and sleep quality was assessed by using PSQI. Children with functional constipation had lower scores of quality of life compared to healthy controls. Although the total score was not statistically significant the physical well-being scores of constipated children was significantly lower than control group. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score for children with functional constipation was significantly higher than controls (2.5 ± 2.4 and 0.5 ± 0.6, respectively; p < 0.05). School-aged children with functional constipation had lower quality of life and quality of sleep compared to their healthy peers. Physical well-being was especially impaired in constipated children affecting daily activities negatively. Assessment of quality of sleep as well as quality of life should be a part of management of functional constipation in childhood.