Children With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and the Quality of Their Daily Lives

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a rare disease, resulting from a developmental malformation of the diaphragm. Over the last years, management of the affected children has improved significantly. Despite progress in the treatment, it is still related to a high mortality rate. After birth, congenital diaphragmatic hernias are associated with lung hypoplasia as well as pulmonary hypertension which can in turn lead to cardiac dysfunction. Comorbidities as gastroesophageal reflux or respiratory difficulties, such as chronic pulmonary symptoms or repeated respiratory tract infections are common amongst survivors. However, little is known about the health-related quality of life in children after surgical intervention of their diaphragm.

Aim: This study aims to obtain information on the health-related quality of life in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia to improve their future long-term management.

Methods: A single-centre prospective study was conducted, examining health-related quality of life of children between five and 18 years of age who were initially treated at the General Hospital of Vienna for congenital diaphragmatic hernia between 2005 and 2019. The validated KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire was used to assess the health-related quality of life of children with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, completed by the whole family, including the affected child himself (≥ 8 years old), parents, and siblings. Additionally, a detailed demographic review was obtained.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 80

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Austria
  • Vienna
    • Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 1090
      • Medical University of Vienna

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

General Hospital of Vienna

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• In this study, patients diagnosed with CDH, born between 2005 and 2019 and treated at the Medical University of Vienna at the Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics were included after giving their written consent for this study. Children with CDH, at least eight years old, their parents, and siblings (eight years or older) were asked to complete the questionnaire.

  • CDH patients answered the KIDSCREEN-27 childrens version questionnaire (see Appendix) if they were aged eight to 18 years.
  • Parents answered the KIDSCREEN-27 parents version questionnaire (see Appendix). If the CDH patients were younger than eight years, only their parents were asked to fill out the questionnaire.
  • If siblings were at least eight years old, they were also asked to complete a questionnaire, which is a newly created version of the KIDSCREEN-27 parents version concerning the quality of life of their CDH affected siblings (see Appendix).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Missing written informed consent to the study from the CDH patient, parents, or siblings led to exclusion. Parents and siblings of deceased patients were not included.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Siblings
Parents
Child (CDH patients)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Primary Outcome Measure	Primary outcome of this study was HRQoL, assessed using the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire . It consists of 27 items covering 5 dimensions (Physical and Psychological Well-Being, Autonomy & Parent Relations, Social Support & Peers, and School Environment). Raw scores are transformed into T-scores with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10 based on European normative data. Higher scores indicate better HRQoL. Self- and proxy-reported HRQoL were compared among CDH patients, parents, and siblings. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS©(V 29.0.2.0), Microsoft Excel© (V16.98), and R (V 4.4.2). Two-sided p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Continuous variables are presented as mean±standard deviation or median (range), and categorical variables as percentages, based on the number of valid observations (N valid). Group comparisons were conducted using the chi-square test for categorical variables and the two-tailed unpaired t-test for continuous variables.	2023-2025

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 9, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 18, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 25, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Quality of life
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Internal Hernia; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Congenital Abnormalities; Hernia; Hernia, Diaphragmatic; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital
• Other Study ID Numbers: EK-Nr: 1244/2023

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No