Health-related quality of life in adolescents and young adults with a history of Kawasaki disease.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents and young adults with Kawasaki disease (KD).

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cross-sectional observational study. Patients were eligible for this study when they were > or =16 years of age and had received a diagnosis of KD > or =5 years before the start of this study. The patients were divided in 3 groups according to their coronary status: normal, aneurysms, and giant aneurysms/ischemia. A self-administered questionnaire (Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36) was mailed to the patients to evaluate the HRQOL.

RESULTS

Of 624 total questionnaires mailed, 377 were delivered, and 250 were returned. The response rates of the normal, aneurysm, and giant aneurysms/ischemia groups were 33%, 62%, and 72% of all eligible patients, respectively. All subscale scoress of HRQOL, except vitality and role-emotional (limitations in the usual role activities because of emotional problems) in patients with KD were significantly higher than scores from the national norms.

CONCLUSIONS

The HRQOL of adolescents and young adults with a history of KD is favorable. However, long-term follow-up is necessary, because the general health perceptions of older patients tended to be lower.