Behavioral and emotional problems and quality of life in Chinese children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

OBJECTIVE

This study intended to explore behavioral and emotional problems and quality of life, as well as their related factors in Chinese children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Subjects were included from April 2023 to September 2023. Child behavior checklist (CBCL), pediatric quality of life inventory™ version 4.0 (PedsQLTM4.0), and version 3.0 (PedsQLTM3.0) Cancer Module were used to assess behavioral and emotional problems and quality of life.

RESULTS

A total of 120 children with LCH were included. Twenty-six (21.7%) children had behavioral and emotional problems. Age at diagnosis ≥ 4 years [odds ratio (OR) = 0.344, P = 0.022] and major caregiver with an educational level of junior college and above (OR = 0.314, P = 0.035) were independently associated with a lower possibility of achieving CBCL total problem score ≥ 35. Electronic product usage time ≥ 2 h per day (B=-6.024, P = 0.011) and caesarean section (B=-6.006, P = 0.012) were independently related to a lower total PedsQLTM4.0 score, while age at diagnosis ≥ 4 years (B = 9.183, P = 0.004) showed an inverse trend. Second-line treatment was independently related to a lower total PedsQLTM3.0 Cancer Module score (B=-5.578, P = 0.021).

CONCLUSION

In this study, 21.7% of Chinese children with LCH exhibit behavioral and emotional problems. Age at diagnosis < 4 years, major caregiver with an educational level of high school and below, electronic product usage time ≥ 2 h, caesarean section, and second-line treatment are related to behavioral and emotional problems and impaired quality of life in Chinese children with LCH.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.