The KINDL questionnaire for assessment of general quality of life inadenotonsillar hyperplasia

Abstract

There are few systematic studies on the general quality of life of children before and after adenoidectomy and adenotonsillotomy, although interventions on adenoids and tonsils are the most frequent operations in childhood in Germany. For this reason, the established KINDL questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life of children for the first time. Study participants (n = 111) and a waiting design control group (n = 35) were recruited consecutively from children (3-6 years) receiving adenoidectomy (66 %) or adenotonsillotomy (34 %). The Kiddy-KINDL® questionnaire was answered by parents on the day of surgery and 3.5 months postoperatively. Parents of the control group were interviewed, when the date of operation was scheduled and on the day of operation. Total scale score of the Kiddy-KINDL of max. 100 points improved slightly in the intervention group from preoperatively 75.9 ± 10.8 (95 %-KI [73.8-77.9]) to postoperatively 77.2 ± 9.2 points (95 %-KI [75.1-79.0]; p = 0.365). Also in the comparison group there was no significant change over time (77.9 ± 9.7; 95 % CI [74.1-81.7] vs. 77.3 ± 11.3; 95 % CI [72.8-81.8]; p = 0.949) or compared to the preoperative score of the intervention group (p = 0.894). The subscales scores for "physical well-being" (p < 0.01), "school" (p = 0.034) and "parents" (p < 0.01) showed significant improvements for the intervention group. Children with additional tonsillotomy also showed a significant postoperative increase of the total scale score (p = 0.049). The version of the Kiddy-KINDL we used is therefore not fully suitable for recording the general QOL in adenotonsillar hyperplasia, since an improvement in QOL could only be recorded in subscales. However, since tonsillotomy in particular seems to have a relevant influence on QOL, it should be performed in children with significant hyperplasia.