Purpose:<\/strong> This study aims to (1) describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes experienced by children born very preterm (28-31 weeks’ gestation) and extremely preterm (< 28 weeks’ gestation) at five years of age and (2) explore the mediation effects of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and severe non-respiratory neonatal morbidity on those outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Methods:<\/strong> This investigation was based on data for 3687 children born at < 32 weeks’ gestation that contributed to the EPICE and SHIPS studies conducted in 19 regions across 11 European countries. Descriptive statistics and multi-level ordinary linear squares (OLS) regression were used to explore the association between perinatal and sociodemographic characteristics and PedsQL\u2122<\/sup> GCS scores. A mediation analysis that applied generalised structural equation modelling explored the association between potential mediators and PedsQL\u2122<\/sup> GCS scores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Results:<\/strong> The multi-level OLS regression (fully adjusted model) revealed that birth at < 26 weeks’ gestation, BPD status and experience of severe non-respiratory morbidity were associated with mean decrements in the total PedsQL\u2122<\/sup> GCS score of 0.35, 3.71 and 5.87, respectively. The mediation analysis revealed that the indirect effects of BPD and severe non-respiratory morbidity on the total PedsQL\u2122<\/sup> GCS score translated into decrements of 1.73 and 17.56, respectively, at < 26 weeks’ gestation; 0.99 and 10.95, respectively, at 26-27 weeks’ gestation; and 0.34 and 4.80, respectively, at 28-29 weeks’ gestation (referent: birth at 30-31 weeks’ gestation).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conclusion:<\/strong> The findings suggest that HRQoL is particularly impaired by extremely preterm birth and the concomitant complications of preterm birth such as BPD and severe non-respiratory morbidity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Qual Life Res. 2023 Jan;32(1):47-58. doi: 10.1007<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-7547","publication","type-publication","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n