Health-related quality of life in individuals with syndromic autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Bolbocean Corneliu , Andújar Fabiola N. , McCormack Maria , Suter Bernhard , Holder J. Lloyd 
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Children with autism have a significantly lower quality of life compared with their neurotypical peers. While multiple studies have quantified the impact of autism on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) through standardized surveys such as the PedsQL, none have specifically investigated the impact of syndromic autism spectrum disorder on children’s HRQoL or on family quality of life. Here we evaluate HRQoL in children diagnosed with three syndromic Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs): Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMD), Rett syndrome (RTT), and SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability (SYNGAP1-ID).

METHODS

A standardized online Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0) survey and the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (FQOL) were administered to caregivers of children with PMD (n= 213), RTT (n= 148), and SYNGAP1-ID (n= 30). The PedsQL 4.0 measures health-related quality of life in four dimensions: physical, emotional, social and school. The Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale measures five dimensions: family interaction, parenting, emotional well-being, physical/material well-being and disability-related support.

RESULTS

For the PedsQL, the most severely impacted dimension in children with syndromic autism was physical functioning. In comparing individual dimensions among the genetically-defined syndromic autisms, individuals with RTT had significantly worse physical functioning, emotional and school scores than PMD. This finding is congruent with the physical regression typically associated with Rett syndrome. Strikingly, syndromic autism results in worse quality of life than other chronic disorders including idiopathic autism.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduced HRQoL for children with syndromic autism spectrum disorders relative to other chronic childhood illnesses, likely reflects their lack of targeted therapies. This study demonstrates the utility of caregiver surveys in prioritizing phenotypes, which may be targeted as clinical endpoints for genetically defined ASDs.

CONTRIBUTORS’ STATEMENT

Dr. Bolbocean conceptualized and designed the study, designed the data collection instrument, collected data, performed data analysis, wrote and edited the manuscript.

Ms. Andujar performed initial data analysis, drafted the initial manuscript and edited the manuscript.

Ms. McCormack performed data analysis and edited the manuscript.

Dr. Suter conceptualized and designed the study and made critical edits to the manuscript.

Dr. Holder conceptualized and designed the study, designed the data collection instrument, performed data analysis, wrote and edited the manuscript.

Table of contents summary

In this study, we determine the impact of genetically-defined syndromic autism spectrum disorders on their health-related quality of life.

What’s known on this subject

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, have severely impaired health-related quality of life. Systematic measurement of HRQoL in children with neurodevelopmental disorders through standardized instruments provides a holistic understanding of disease impact and therapeutic endpoint for clinical trials.

What this study adds

This study defines the impact of three genetically defined autism spectrum disorders: Rett syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome and SYNGAP1-related Intellectual Disability, on health-related quality of life. We find significantly greater impairment for syndromic ASDs than other neurodevelopmental disorders.