Predictive factors of health related quality of life in children and adolescents with celiac disease: An Italian multicenter study on behalf of the SIGENP

Background: In pediatric patients, celiac disease (CD) may influence the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Aims: The study aimed to assess HRQoL and further characterise the clinical factors associated with reduced HRQoL, in a large multicenter pediatric cohort with CD. Methods: The disease-specific questionnaire CD Dutch Questionnaire (CDDUX) and the generic questionnaire Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) were used to assess the HRQoL. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were analyzed, univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted. Results: Eleven different Italian pediatric centers and 871 families were involved. Mean age at interview was 12.9 ± 2.9 years. The mean total CDDUX score of CD patients was 47.1 ± 18.8, revealing a neutral HRQoL (47.1 ± 18.8), and a good to very good HRQoL according to the PedsQL (81.4 ± 12.6), parents indicated lower scores (p = 0.03) with both questionnaires (CDDUX 45.1 ± 18.6 and PedsQL 79.9 ± 14.5). Patients with lower HRQoL were mainly female, living in Northern Italy, with lower parent's education level and non-biopsy diagnosis of CD. In multivariate analysis, the main predictor of lower CDDUX score was non-biopsy diagnosis. Conclusions: The HRQoL in a large cohort of Italian children is reported as neutral-good. This indicates a high level of adaptive behaviors in response to the daily challenges of CD. Parents tend to underestimate their children's HRQoL. Specific clinical factors, including non-biopsy diagnosis, may be associated to lower HRQoL.