Correlation between cognitive function, gross motor skills and health – Related quality of life in children with Down syndrome

Abstract

Background: Children with Down syndrome (DS) have delayed motor and cognitive development and have problems in health related quality of life (HRQOL).

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between cognitive function; attention/concentration, gross motor skills; standing and walking, running, jumping domains and HRQOL in children with DS.

Subjects and methods: Seventy children with DS of both sexes (37 boys and 33 girls) were selected from El Tarbia El Fekria School for children with Special Needs and Education and National Institute of neuro motor system. They were selected to be ranged in age from 8 to 12 years and to be free from visual, hearing or perceptual problems. They were divided into two age groups; group A (8–10 years), and group B (10–12 years). The Rehacom was used to evaluate the cognitive function (attention/concentration), the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) was used to evaluate the gross motor skills and the Pediatric quality of life inventory parent-proxy report (PedsQL TM) was used to evaluate the HRQOL.

Results: There was a weak to moderate correlation between the cognitive function, GMFM and HRQOL in both age groups. The level of difficulty of attention/concentration was moderate, positively and significantly correlated with GMFM; standing and walking, running, jumping domains in both age groups. There was a moderate, positive and significant correlation was found between the physical score of HRQOL and walking, running, jumping domain in age group B and between the psychosocial score of HRQOL and standing domain in age group A.

Conclusion: The cognitive function and HRQOL should be considered in the evaluation of children with DS in addition to gross motor skills as there was a correlation between the cognitive function, HRQOL and GMFM.

Keywords: Cognitive function, Gross motor skills, Health – related quality of life, Down syndrome children