Quality of life prediction in children with joint hypermobility syndrome

Constipation is the commonest GI symptom, followed by diarrhea and recurrent abdominal pain, in pediatric hypermobility.

“Constipation is the commonest symptom, followed by diarrhea and recurrent abdominal pain, with 54% of the Sydney cohort reporting any GI symptom and 17% reporting more than one [22].”

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) can present in pediatric patients with hypermobility.

“Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) can present in pediatric patients with hypermobility.”

In the Sydney cohort, patients commonly reported joint instability (67% overall) at the knee (predominantly patella) (35%), ankle (32%), shoulder (26%), hand (18%), and wrist (14%).

“In the Sydney cohort [22] patients commonly reported joint instability (67% overall) at the following sites knee (predominantly patella) (35%), ankle (32%), shoulder (26%), hand (18%), and wrist (14%).”

In the Sydney clinical cohort of 89 patients aged 6-16 years with Beighton scores ≥ 4 at inception, the commonest complaint was joint pain, with 94% reporting pain in multiple joints (mean 6.4 joints, range 0-15).

“In the Sydney clinical cohort of 89 patients aged 6–16 years, with Beighton scores ≥ 4 at inception, the commonest complaint was joint pain with 94% reporting pain in multiple joints (mean 6.4 joints, range 0–15), at the knee 63%, foot 50%, ankle 48%, hand 36%, wrist 33%, back 27%, hip 26%, shoulder 22%, and elbow 21% [22].”

Several studies have identified an increased prevalence of urinary incontinence in hypermobile pediatric case-controlled studies.

“Several studies have identified an increased prevalence of urinary incontinence in hypermobile pediatric case-controlled studies [22, 48, 49].”

17% of the Sydney cohort reported more than one GI symptom.

“Constipation is the commonest symptom, followed by diarrhea and recurrent abdominal pain, with 54% of the Sydney cohort reporting any GI symptom and 17% reporting more than one [22].”

The Sydney cohort reported orthostatic intolerance symptoms in 39% of the group.

“The Sydney cohort reported orthostatic intolerance symptoms in 39% of the group [22].”

The prevalence of symptoms of stress incontinence in the Sydney cohort was 26% in hypermobile children.

“The prevalence of symptoms of stress incontinence in the Sydney cohort was 26% and this predicted reduced quality of life in hypermobile children [22].”

There is growing recognition of an association between autonomic dysfunction and hEDS/HSD.

“There is growing recognition of an association between autonomic dysfunction and hEDS/HSD and the group agreed it is an important comorbidity, commonly presenting as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in older children.”

Stress incontinence symptoms predicted reduced quality of life in hypermobile children.

“The prevalence of symptoms of stress incontinence in the Sydney cohort was 26% and this predicted reduced quality of life in hypermobile children [22].”

There is increasing evidence for lower urinary tract dysfunction as part of the clinical presentation of symptomatic hypermobility.

“There is increasing evidence for the presence of lower urinary tract dysfunction, defined using the NDDIK criteria [39], as part of the clinical presentation of symptomatic hypermobility”

54% of the Sydney cohort reported any GI symptom.

“Constipation is the commonest symptom, followed by diarrhea and recurrent abdominal pain, with 54% of the Sydney cohort reporting any GI symptom and 17% reporting more than one [22].”